Students are investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of lipid breakdown by the enzyme lipase.
They mix lipase with a lipid emulsion at different temperatures: 20 ∘C20\text{ }^\circ\text{C}20 ∘C, 40 ∘C40\text{ }^\circ\text{C}40 ∘C, and 60 ∘C60\text{ }^\circ\text{C}60 ∘C.
As lipase breaks down lipids into fatty acids, the pH of the mixture decreases. The students measure the time taken for the pH to decrease from 8.08.08.0 to 6.56.56.5.
State whether the "time taken for the pH to decrease" is the independent, dependent, or control variable.
Complete the following sentences to explain why the rate of lipid breakdown is greater at 40 ∘C40\text{ }^\circ\text{C}40 ∘C than at 20 ∘C20\text{ }^\circ\text{C}20 ∘C:
The students want to find the precise temperature at which the lipase enzymes denature and completely stop functioning. Suggest two ways they can extend or modify their experiment to find this out.