New Biology – a modern approach 1

Chapter 2: Chemicals of life

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Structured Questions
Core Section

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Complete the following paragraph with suitable words selected from the list below:
changed solution stable solvent specific heat capacity
density buoyancy cooling agent dispersal agent reactant
product respiration gametes

Water plays an important role in life. As it is a universal (i)_________________, it helps in carrying

substances to different parts of the body. Water absorbs a lot of heat with only a slight change in temperature.
We say that water has a high (ii) _________________. Because of this property, oceans are relatively (iii)
_________________ in temperature and provide a suitable habitat for aquatic organisms. Water also provides
(iv) _________________ for aquatic organisms to support their body. As water takes away heat when it
evaporates, it acts as a (v) _________________ to decrease the body temperature. In photosynthesis, water is
a (vi) _________________ for making carbohydrates.
(3 marks)
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(i) solvent (1/2 mark)
(ii) specific heat capacity (1/2 mark)
(iii) stable (1/2 mark)
(iv) buoyancy (1/2 mark)
(v) cooling agent (1/2 mark)
(vi) reactant (1/2 mark)
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(3 marks)##

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The diagram shows the food that contains a large amount of a storage substance, X.

(i) Name the storage substance X. (1 mark)

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(ii) X is formed from molecule Y. Name molecule Y. (1 mark)
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(iii) Name the three elements that form molecule Y. (3 marks)
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(iv) Name another chemical compound (other than carbohydrate) that contains the same elements as Y.
(1 mark)
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(i) Starch. (1 mark)
(ii) Glucose. (1 mark)
(iii) Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. (3 marks)
(iv) Fat. (1 mark)
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(6 marks)##

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Mary brought a lunch box to school. In the lunch box, there were bread, an orange, an egg, peanuts and a
carton of milk.
(i) State the type of carbohydrate found in bread. List all the atoms which make up a carbohydrate
compound. (4 marks)
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(ii) (1) Name the organic compound found in eggs which is necessary for making cells. (1 mark)
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(2) This organic compound is too large to be absorbed. It has to be broken down into small units
before absorption. Name the smallest unit. (1 mark)
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(iii) Name TWO inorganic substances found in milk. (2 marks)
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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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(iv) Explain why peanuts have a high energy value. (1 mark)
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(i) Starch is found in bread. (1 mark)
It has carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. (3 marks)
(ii) (1) Protein (1 mark)
(2) Amino acid (1 mark)
(iii) Water and minerals (calcium) (2 marks)
(iv) Peanuts contain a high content of oil. (1 mark)
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(9 marks)##

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The photo below shows some green young seedlings:

With reference to the photo, explain the importance of water to the green young seedlings as:
(i) a reactant. (1 mark)
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(ii) a supporting agent. (1 mark)
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(i) Water acts as a reactant in photosynthesis for the production of carbohydrates in green plants.
(1 mark)
(ii) Water provides a means of support in young seedlings by contributing to turgidity of the cells.
(1 mark)
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(2 marks)##
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 New Biology – a modern approach 1
Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
CHEMICAL COMOUNDS
Chemical compounds are conventionally divided into two groups: organic and
inorganic. Both are found in living things. Until the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler
synthesized urea in 1828, it was thought that organic compounds could only be formed in
living things. In fact organic matter was thought to be unique to living systems. Since
Wöhler’s experiment, hundreds of organic compounds have been synthesized and it is clear
that they are absolutely not unique to living things.

(i) (1) Give FOUR principal organic compounds found in living things. (4 marks)
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(2) Besides carbon, what elements are also found in all organic compounds? (2 marks)
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(3) Select, from your answers in (1), TWO of the organic compounds which can be stored in living
things. (2 marks)
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(ii) Name ONE inorganic compound that makes up about 70 % of a living thing. (1 mark)
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(i) (1) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acids. (4 marks)
(2) Hydrogen and oxygen. (2 marks)
(3) Carbohydrates and fats. (2 marks)
(ii) Water. (1 mark)
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(9 marks)##

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Refer to the figure below:

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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State the role of water in the above organ. (2 marks)

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The organ above is an eyeball.
The aqueous humour and vitreous humour in the eyeball contain a lot of water. (1 mark)
This gives the shape of the eye in vertebrates (as a supporting agent). (1 mark)
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(2 marks)##

|!|EQB00200007|!|
* Mary got three food samples:
A. C.

butter potatoes
B.

fish

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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(i) Each food sample is a rich source of an organic compound. Complete the table below: (6 marks)
Food sample Rich in Function of the organic compound in human
A

(ii) (1) State the common elements found in the above organic compounds. (2 marks)
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(2) State ONE element that must be present and is unique to the organic compound in B. (1 mark)
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(i)
Food sample Rich in Function of the organic compound in human
A fat As an energy store.
B protein As a structural component of cell membrane.
C starch Glucose formed from digestion of starch is an energy source.
(1 mark each) (6 marks)
(ii) (1) Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. (2 or 0 marks)
(2) Nitrogen. (1 mark)
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(9 marks)##

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* Miss Chan gave John the chemical formulae of four compounds:
C6H12O6 CH3(CH2)16COOH NH2CH2COOH H2CO3
A B C D
(i) Using the letters given, state the compound which is:
(1) an amino acid. Suggest a reason to support your answer. (2 marks)
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(2) inorganic. (1 mark)
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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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(ii) Calculate the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms in:
(1) compound A (1 mark)
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(2) compound B (1 mark)
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(iii) According to the calculated ratios, identify:
(1) compound A (1 mark)
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(2) compound B (1 mark)
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(iv) Describe TWO uses of compound A in the body of a plant. (2 marks)
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(i) (1) C because it contains nitrogen. (2 marks)
(2) D (1 mark)
(ii) (1) H:O = 2:1 (1 mark)
(2) H:O = 18:1 (1 mark)
(iii) (1) Carbohydrate or glucose. (1 mark)
(2) Fat. (1 mark)
(iv) Used in respiration to release energy.
Converted to starch for energy storage.
Converted to cellulose for building cell wall in plant cells. (any two) (2 marks)
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(9 marks)##

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Carbohydrates are the main components in our diet. However, the proportion of carbohydrates in the
human body is far smaller than that of fats and proteins. Why? (5 marks)
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Carbohydrates are mainly used to release energy for daily needs in humans, (1 mark)
hence only a small amount of carbohydrates is stored in the body. (1 mark)
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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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Fats are stored in the body for energy reserve (1 mark)
and proteins are used for body building. (1 mark)
Thus, large amounts of fats and proteins are found in the body. (1 mark)
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(5 marks)##

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The diagram below shows part of the cellulose molecule:
…－#－#－#－#－#－…
Key: #: molecule A
(i) Name molecule A. (1 mark)
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(ii) State a major use of molecule A in the human body. (1 mark)
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(iii) Excess molecule A can be stored in animals and plants. Name its storage forms in animals and plants
respectively. (2 marks)
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(iv) Suggest ONE food source of molecule A. (1 mark)
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(i) glucose (1 mark)
(ii) to release energy (1 mark)
(iii) in animals: glycogen (1 mark)
in plants: starch (1 mark)
(iv) candy / chocolate (or any reasonable answers) (1 mark)
__________
(5 marks)##

|!|EQA00200011|!|
Refer to diagrams A and B below:

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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A B
(i) Classify A and B in the above diagrams as fat or oil. Explain your answers. (2 marks)
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(ii) What is the difference of the hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio between fats and carbohydrates? (2 marks)
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(iii) State TWO functions of fats. (2 marks)
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(i) A is fat as it is in solid state at room temperature. (1 mark)
B is oil as it is in liquid state at room temperature. (1 mark)
(ii) The hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a carbohydrate molecule are in the ratio of 2:1, while a fat
molecule has such a ratio higher than 2:1. (2 marks)
(iii) - to act as an energy store
- to prevent heat loss
- to act as a cushion to protect internal organs
- as a component of the cell membrane (any two or any reasonable answers) (2 marks)
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(6 marks)##

|!|EQA00200012|!|
Which of the following are examples of proteins or carbohydrates?
antibody, glucose, enzyme, starch, glycogen, cellulose
Put their names under the corresponding headings. (6 marks)
Proteins Carbohydrates
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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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Proteins: antibody, enzyme. (1 mark each) (2 marks)
Carbohydrates: glucose, starch, glycogen, cellulose. (1 mark each) (4 marks)
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(6 marks)##

|!|EQA00200013|!|
State the roles of water in sweat, blood plasma and urine respectively. (4 marks)
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Sweat: water carries away heat when it evaporates. (2 marks)
Blood plasma: water carries many dissolved nutrients and wastes around the body. (1 mark)
Urine: water carries wastes out of the body. (1 mark)
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(4 marks)##

|!|EQA00200014|!|
The figure below shows a tooth of an animal:

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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(i) State the major minerals that can be found in the outer white layer of the tooth. (2 marks)
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(ii) Where else can we find the same minerals in the animal? (1 mark)
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(iii) How can animals obtain enough minerals to maintain good health?
Suggest ONE food example that is rich in the minerals mentioned in (i). (2 marks)
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(i) Calcium (1 mark)
Phosphate (or Calcium phosphate). (1 mark)
(ii) Bones (1 mark)
(iii) Animals can obtain enough minerals from their diet. (1 mark)
Milk / cheese / fish (any one or any reasonable answers) (1 mark)
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(5 marks)##

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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|!|EQB00200015|!|
* Water serves many important functions in plants. Suggest the roles water plays in the plants shown below so
that they can survive in such a habitat. (4 marks)

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- Water is a universal solvent that allows many inorganic substances to dissolve in it.
- Carbon dioxide and oxygen must first dissolve in the water film on the mesophyll layer and later be
absorbed into the plant.
- Water can be used to transport the sugars produced and the mineral salts absorbed in the vascular bundles
to other parts of the plant.
- Under sunlight, water is split and acts as a raw material for photosynthesis.
- Water evaporates from the plant surface by transpiration. At the same time, water carries heat away and
helps to cool down the plants to prevent overheating.
- The pond of water provides buoyancy to the floating plants, increasing the amount of sunlight that the
plants can reserve for photosynthesis.
(any four or any reasonable answers)
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(4 marks)##

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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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|!|EQB00200016|!|
* Classify the following items into TWO major categories (organic or inorganic). State ONE function for each
substance in the human body. Present the answers in table form. (7 marks)
Iron, fats, glycogen, nucleic acids

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Category Substance(s) Function(s) in human body
(½ mark each) (½ mark each) (1 mark each)
(1 mark) (2 marks) (4 marks)
Organic Fats Prevent heat loss
Glycogen Acts as energy reserve in humans
Nucleic acids Carry genetic information
Inorganic Iron Forms part of the haemoglobin

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(7 marks)##

|!|EQA00200017|!|
In a laboratory, a bottle of liquid carbohydrate is put alongside a bottle of unknown pure organic substance.
The labels of both bottles are missing. However, a note was found on each bottle, only stating the chemical
formula:
A B
Chemical formula C12H22O11 C16H32O2
(i) Calculate the hydrogen to oxygen ratios for A and B. (2 marks)
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(ii) Suggest which bottle, A or B, is carbohydrate. Explain your answer. (2 marks)
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Chapter 2: Chemicals of life
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(iii) Suggest TWO possible forms of carbohydrate that can be found in plants. (2 marks)
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(iv) It is known that two states of B, solid and liquid, are possible at room temperature. Suggest the names
of the two states of B. (2 marks)
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(v) State TWO similarities between organic substances A and B. (2 marks)
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(i) A: H=22, O=11; (22/11)=2 (1 mark)
B: H=32, O=2; (32/2)=16 (1 mark)
(ii) A (1 mark)
A has a hydrogen to oxygen ratio of 2:1. (1 mark)
(iii) starch (1 mark)
cellulose (or any reasonable answers) (1 mark)
(iv) Solid: fats (1 mark)
Liquid: oils (1 mark)
(v) - Both can be oxidized to release energy.
- Both contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
- Both can be used for energy storage.
(any two or any reasonable answers) (2 marks)
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(10 marks)##

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