Add to collection
  • + Create new collection
  • In this activity, students investigate the effect of the digestive enzyme lactase on a sugar found in milk called lactose. The digestive system condition known as lactose intolerance will also be looked at.

    By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

    • explain the term ‘disaccharide’
    • discuss the structure of lactose and sucrose
    • describe the role that lactase plays in the digestion of lactose
    • define the term ‘enzyme specificity’
    • explain in simple terms the digestive condition known as ‘lactose intolerance’.

    Download the Word file (see link below) for:

    • introduction/background notes
    • what you need
    • what to do
    • student worksheets.

    Related content

    The article Catalysing chemical reactions with enzymes includes an animated video outlining in detail how enzymes work.

    Find out more about lactose intolerance:

    See our Enzymes Pinterest board for more resource ideas.

      Published 1 July 2011 Referencing Hub articles
          Go to full glossary
          Download all