The Power of Enzymes!
What do enzymes and engineering have in common? As a catalyst that creates a chemical reaction, enzymes are a unique substance that chemical engineers can learn from to create their own unique chemical designs. In this lesson, students learn about enzymes, study how enzymes work in our digestive system, and discuss enzymes are used in laundry detergents. Students relate to the idea that enzymes digest the food in the human body, and that enzymes can also be used to digest food stains on clothing.
Students take part in performing the lesson extension activity.Copyright 2020 Kristine Bour, University of Florida MRET
Laundry is a real-world problem to which we can all relate. Engineers work to solve all types of problems, including how to create chemicals that help us in our daily lives. In the case of cleaning agents used in household products such as laundry detergent, chemical engineers use their knowledge of chemistry to engineer formulas. Engineers look to a variety of sources to solve problems and the human body is an excellent source of inspiration. For example, enzymes are present in the digestive system of the human body and these digestive enzymes—amylase, protease and lipase—have a specific function of breaking down food. Engineers use this scientific knowledge to create a laundry detergent using these enzymes which break down and remove a variety of different laundry stains created by foods.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the role of enzymes in digestion.
- Explain why enzymes are used in laundry detergent.