Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Cell Respiration (SL IB Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours28 questions
1a1 mark

State an appropriate chemical equation to represent the production of ATP in respiration.

1b2 marks

ATP is an energy source required for many processes in the human body.

Identify two uses of ATP in the human body.

1c2 marks

State the word equation for aerobic respiration.

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2a1 mark

When farmers store animal feed, moisture levels need to be kept as low as possible to prevent the growth of fungi. Animal feed was exposed to 10 % moisture and placed into a respirometer. O2 consumption by fungi was monitored using a respirometer over a period of 12 days. The results are shown below.

JsGGj-Bo_e-2a

   

A specific amount of soda-lime was added to the respirometer before data collection began.

State why this alkali was added.

2b2 marks

State two conclusions that could be drawn from the results shown in the graph in part (a).

2c1 mark

List one variable (other than humidity) that should be controlled in this experiment.

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32 marks

Define cellular respiration.

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4a2 marks

The oxygen consumption rate of the red lionfish (Pterois volitans) was examined in a respirometer at three different water temperatures and at four different body masses.

The experimental set-up used and the results of the experiment are shown below.

e-4b

Suggest how the oxygen consumption rate of Pterois volitans is determined.

4b1 mark

State the relationship between body mass and the oxygen consumption of Pterois volitans.

4c2 marks

Based on the data, suggest what the effects of global warming on aerobic respiration in fish might be.

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5a4 marks

The apparatus shown below was used as a basic respirometer to measure the oxygen consumption of a lizard.

e-a

Describe how the experimental set-up shown above can be used to measure the oxygen consumption of the lizard.

5b3 marks

Discuss the suitability of the apparatus shown in part (a) for measuring the oxygen consumption of a green plant during respiration.

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6a
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2 marks

Respiration can be represented by a chemical equation. 

State the balanced chemical equation for aerobic respiration.

6b
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1 mark

The diagram below shows the cyclic formation of ATP from ADP. 

Use the diagram to identify which of processes A and B is the process of phosphorylation. 

WdhpUAhM_-cycling-of-atp-and-adp

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7
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4 marks

Describe the role of the inner membrane of the mitochondria. 

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1a2 marks

ATP is a chemical substance generated in cellular respiration; it is an immediate source of energy for the cell.  ATP can easily be hydrolysed or re-synthesised. 

State two products created when ATP is hydrolysed by water.

1b2 marks

Cells hydrolyse ATP to provide energy for other reactions, or to add phosphate to other substances to make them more reactive. However, ATP needs to be re-synthesised to provide energy for future reactions.

Describe how ATP may be re-synthesised.

1c2 marks

Give two ways in which the properties of ATP make it a suitable source of energy for biological processes. 

1d2 marks

Each day, the human body synthesises more than its weight in ATP during aerobic respiration.

Explain why it is necessary to synthesise such large amounts of ATP.

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2a2 marks

The following apparatus was set up to measure the rate of aerobic respiration by a student. 

biology-2-7-q2a-sq-ib-hl

Suggest what solution X might be and its function within the experiment.

2b3 marks

Describe what ethical concerns the student should consider during this experiment.

2c3 marks

The student found the water droplet had moved by 2 cm in 24 hours. The diameter of the lumen of the tube is 1 mm.

The volume of the tubing is given by the equation πr²l ;
Use the value of 3.14 to represent π and note that l refers to the length.

Use the equation to calculate the volume of gas produced in cm³ hour⁻¹, give your answer in standard form.

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3a2 marks

The diagram below shows the respirometer apparatus used by a teacher for measuring the rate of oxygen consumption of seeds during aerobic respiration.

biology-2-7-q3a-sq-ib-hl

For the first 12 minutes, the tap attached to tube 1 was left open and the syringe from tube 2 was taken away.

Suggest two reasons why this was done.

3b2 marks

A temperature of 25 oC was used during the experiment. The teacher explained it was very important to keep the temperature constant. 

Explain why it is important to keep the temperature constant.

3c3 marks

After 12 minutes, the tap connected to tube 1 was closed and the syringe was attached to tube 2. Every 60 seconds, the syringe plunger was moved to make the levels in the U-tube identical. The reading on the volume scale of the syringe was then recorded. The results are shown in the table below.

Time (minutes) Reading on volume scale of syringe (cm3)
0 0.86
1 0.83
2 0.80
3 0.77
4 0.75
5 0.73
6 0.70
7 0.68
8 0.65
9 0.62
10 0.59
11 0.57
12 0.54


Predict, with a reason, whether the coloured liquid in the U-tube would move towards tube 1 or tube 2 during the experiment.

3d2 marks

The mass of the seeds was 1.8 g. 

Using the information provided in the table, calculate the rate of oxygen consumption cm3 g–1 hour–1 by the seeds. Show your working.

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45 marks

Compare and contrast aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

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1a
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3 marks

A Sports Scientist was investigating aerobic respiration in an athlete. The equation below summarises how ATP is produced, using energy from the oxidation of glucose, for this particular athlete.

      glucose + oxygen + (ADP + Pi) → carbon dioxide + water + ATP

               170 g    124.4 dm3     17.25 kg          124.4 dm        107 g     17.25 kg

Calculate the mass of ATP produced per dm3 of oxygen for the athlete.

1b
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2 marks

The Sports Scientist then decided to measure the volume of oxygen consumed and the mass of ATP produced by the athlete when they ran different length races.

Some of the results for the athlete are shown in the table below.

Length of race/m Volume of oxygen consumed in cell respiration during race/dm3 Mass of ATP produced/kg
1 500 40  
10 000 160  
25 000   48.545
42 000   95.703

Complete the table by calculating the missing values.

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2a2 marks

A group of researchers wanted to investigate ATP production in the preparation of isolated mitochondria taken from a person with mitochondrial disease. They suspended the mitochondria in an isotonic solution and added ADP, phosphate and a respiratory substrate. Oxygen was supplied throughout the preparation.

Explain why the solution used was isotonic.

2b
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3 marks

Researchers measured the rate of CO2 production by three groups of insects of the same species at 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C. The mean mass of each group of insects was also recorded. Their results can be seen in the table below.

Temperature / °C Mean mass / g

Rate of CO2 release

/ µdm3 min-1

Rate of CO2 release per gram

/ µdm3 g-1 min-1

15 0.051 0.15  
25 0.050 0.39  
35 0.052 0.61  

(i)

Calculate the rate of carbon dioxide release per gram for each temperature in the table. Give your answer to two decimal places.

[1]

(ii)
Sketch a graph of your values against temperature.

[2]

2c3 marks
(i)
Describe the effect of temperature on the rate of CO2 release for these insects.

[1]

(ii)
Explain this effect.

[2]

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35 marks

The researcher then wanted to measure and compare the rate of aerobic respiration in different species of beetle (with different masses) using the experimental set-up shown below.

screenshot-2022-07-14-14-07-15

(i)
Outline the different measurements that the researcher would need to take in order to calculate the aerobic respiration rate and to accurately compare these respiration rates between different beetle species.

[4]

(ii)
Suggest suitable units of respiration rate, based on the different measurements that the researcher would need to take.

[1]

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43 marks

Explain how temperature influences the rate of ATP production in respiration.

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5a
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2 marks

A group of scientists measured the mean rate of respiration in soil found under trees and soil that was not from under trees within the same woodland. The mean rate of photosynthesis in leaves was also measured. The measurements were taken throughout a 24 hour period during the summer.  

The diagram below shows the scientists' results. 

lcstjsko-image

Suggest an explanation for the mean rate of respiration in soil not under the trees between midday and sunset. 

5b
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2 marks

The mean rate of respiration is higher in soil under the trees throughout the 24hours. The scientists suggested the mean rate of photosynthesis was the cause of this. 

Suggest how the rise in the mean rate of photosynthesis could lead to the rise in the mean rate of respiration in soil under trees.

5c
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2 marks

State the measurements needed for the scientists to calculate the rate of carbon dioxide production. 

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