MODULE EXCEL BIOLOGY

CHAPTER 3 (PAGE 3)

SECTION B: ESSAY

a) The plasma membrane consists of a lipid bilayer and various types

of protein molecules. The polar head is hydrophilic while non polar
tail is hydrophobic. (1m)

This property enables only certain substances like oxygen, carbon

dioxide and water molecules to go across it. (1m)

Dissolved substances like glucose and amino acids as well as

charged ions cannot move across the lipid layer. These substances
can only move across membrane with the help of carrier proteins.
(1m)

Molecules that are big and complex like sucrose and starch cannot
move across the membrane at all. Only certain substances can
move across the membrane, making the membrane semi-
permeable. (1m)

b) An example of simple diffusion in our body is the gas exchange in

the alveolus. (1m)

The concentration of oxygen in the alveolus is higher than the

concentration of oxygen in the blood capillary on the surface of
alveolus. Oxygen molecules diffuse out of the alveolus into the
blood capillary. (1m)

In the blood capillary, the concentration of carbon dioxide is higher

than in the alveolus. Thus, carbon dioxide molecules diffuse out of
the blood capillary into the alveolus to be removed from the body.
(1m)

An example of facilitated diffusion in our body is the absorption of

digested food by the vilus in the ileum. (1m)

The concentration of digested food such as glucose and amino acids

are higher in the ileum than in the blood capillaries at the vilus.
(1m)

Thus, glucose and amino acids diffuse into the blood capillaries of
the vilus through the carrier proteins without expending any energy.
 This type of diffusion, which needs the help of carrier proteins, is
called facilitated diffusion. (1m)

c) 5% sucrose solution

- The plant cell maintains its shape and size.

- 5% sucrose solution is isotonic to the concentration of the cell
sap in the plant.
- Rate of movement of water molecules in and out of the plant cell
is the same. The size of the plant cell is maintained.

30% sucrose solution

- 30% sucrose solution is hypertonic to the concentration of the

plants cell sap.
- Water molecules diffuse out of the plant cell by osmosis.
- The vacuole becomes smaller, the plasma membrane is pulled
away from the cell wall. The plant cell is plasmolysed and
become flaccid.

0.1% sucrose solution

- 0.1% sucrose solution is hypotonic to the concentration of cell sap

in the plant cell.

- water molecules diffuse into the cell by osmosis. The vacuole

collects the water and expands, causing a pressure to be exerted on
the cell wall.

- this pressure causes the plant cell to expand and become turgid.

SECTION C (ESSAY OPEN RESPONSE)

a) i) Water in the soil is hypotonic to the concentration of the cell sap

in the root hair cells (1m)
As a result, water molecules diffuse into the cells by osmosis. This
process does not need energy and occurs down the concentration
gradient. (1m)

ii) Calcium in the soil dissolve in the soil water to form calcium ions.
The concentration of calcium ions in the soil is lower compared to
the concentration of calcium ions in the roots.(1m)
In order for the plant to obtain calcium ions, the root cells have to
transport calcium against the concentration gradient by active
 transport. Energy is required for the carrier proteins to transport the
calcium ions across the membrane. (1m)

b) Isotonic: solution that has the same concentration with the solution
compared. (1m)
Hypotonic: Solution that is more diluted than the solution compared.
(1m)
Hypertonic: solution that is more concentrated than the solution
compared. (1m)

ii) in the isotonic 0.85% sodium chloride solution, the rate of

movement of water molecules in and out of the erythrocyte cells are
the same. (1m)
The erythrocyte cells maintain their shape and size because the
concentration of erythrocyte cells is the same as 0.85%sodium
chloride solution. (2m)

In a hypotonic solution such as water, the concentration in the

erythrocyte cells is higher than the water surrounding it. (1m)
As a result, water molecules diffuse into the erythrocyte cells by
osmosis. (1m)
The cells expand and finally burst. The cells undergo haemolysis.
(1m)

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration in erythrocyte cells is

lower than the concentration of the solution round it. (1m)
Water molecules diffuse out of the erythrocyte cells. (1m)
The erythrocyte cells shrink. The cells undergo crenation. (1m)

iii) in the blood, the erythrocyte cells are prevented from bursting or
shrinking.

The osmotic blood pressure is always being regulated so that it is

the same as the osmotic pressure in the erythrocyte cells. (1m)

Hence, the rate of movement of water molecules in and out of the

erythrocyte cells are the same. (1m)

The shape and size of the erythrocyte cells have to be maintained

so that the survival of the erythrocyte cells is guaranteed and the
cells can continue to carry out their function. (2m)
 PAPER 3 ( THEORY ON PRACTICAL)

a) i- Experiment I: a brick red precipitate is formed.

Experiment II: the water remains blue

ii- Observation 1- Simple sugar is present

Observation 2- Simple sugar is not present.

b) In experiment I, amylase hydrolysed the starch to maltose (simple

sugar) which then diffused out the visking tubing into the
surrounding water.
In experiment II, the blue colour of the Benedicts reagent remain
because there is no amylase to hydrolyse the starch. Hence, there is
no simple sugar.

c) 10 minutes

d) As the time increase, more starch is being hydrolysed by amylase

and simple sugar is formed.

e) (i) Presence of amylase

(ii) Presence of simple sugar (maltose)
(iii) Temperature, volume of starch and amylase

f) Starch molecules which are bigger cannot move across the semi-
permeable membrane while small molecules like maltose can move
across the semi permeable membrane.

g) A semi-permeable membrane only allows certain substances to

move across it. Big molecules like starch cannot move across the
membrane while small molecules like simple sugar ( maltose) can
move across it.

h) Experiment I: The water turns yellow showing there is no starch

Experiment II: The water turns yellow showing there is no starch.