O LevelBiologyCambridgeExam Questions3. Movement into & out of Cells3.1 Diffusion & Osmosis

Diffusion & Osmosis (Cambridge O Level Biology)

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3.1 Diffusion & Osmosis

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3.1 Diffusion & Osmosis

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1
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Osmosis is:

  • The active movement of molecules from a region of their lower concentration to a region of their higher concentration. 

  • The movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from a more concentrated to a more dilute solution.

  • Particles from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration using energy from respiration.

  • The movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from a more dilute to a more concentrated solution.

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2
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How does a water vapour molecule move out of the air space of a leaf into the atmosphere on a dry day?

  • Active transport

  • Diffusion

  • Evaporation

  • Transpiration

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3
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The image below shows a leaf palisade cell: 

A_J~Ah-X_plant-cell

What would the correct appearance of the leaf palisade cell be after it has been placed in a highly concentrated solution of sugar after an hour?

  • a

  • b

  • c

  • d

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4
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What causes the diffusion of carbon dioxide out of a living cell?

  • Active transport

  • Random movement of molecules

  • Respiration

  • Photosynthesis

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5
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Which of the structures below is best adapted for diffusion?

  • ileum

  • bronchioles

  • atria

  • capillary

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1
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Which of the following statements would be correct for both diffusion and osmosis?

  does not require energy from the cell molecules must be separated by a partially permeable membrane molecules move from a dilute to a more concentrated solution
A ✓ ✓ X
B X X ✓
C ✓ X X
D ✓ X ✓

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    2
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    A number of red blood cells were immersed in a pure solution of water before being observed under a microscope. 

    There was a dramatic change in their appearance. 

    Which row of the table below correctly describes and explains what happened to the red blood cells?

      direction of water movement from higher to lower concentration from higher to lower water potential effect
    A in ✓ X cells burst
    B in X ✓ cells burst
    C out ✓ X cells shrink
    D out ✓ ✓ cells shrink

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      3
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      The image below shows two solutions separated by a partially permeable membrane.

      picture7

      Which of the statements below would be true in relation to the image?

      • There is no net movement of water from W to X

      • There would be movement of water molecules from W to X

      • Osmosis of sugar molecules would occur from the dilute solution (W) to the concentrated solution (X)

      • Solution X is more dilute and therefore has a higher water potential than solution W

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      4
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      Which of the statements below correctly describes the importance of osmosis in plant tissues?

      • Plants are supported by osmosis filling the cell wall with water, increasing the strength of the cell

      • Plants are supported by the pressure of water inside the cells pressing outwards on the cell wall

      • Plants are supported by the pressure of water outside the cells pressing inwards on the cell wall

      • Plants are supported by osmosis filling the cell membrane with water, increasing the strength of the cell

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      5
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      Three statements about the role of water in mammals are given below:

      1. Water forms a major part of the cytoplasm, allowing substances to dissolve and participate in metabolic reactions within the cell
      2. Substances, such as urea and excess salts, are able to dissolve in water making them easier to remove from the body in urine
      3. Allows substances to be transported around the body in the blood

      Which of the statements above are true?

      • 1 & 2 only

      • 2 & 3 only

      • All of the statements

      • 1 & 3 only

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      61 mark

      A piece of plant tissue is transferred from a beaker of water into a concentrated sugar solution. Which row describes what happens?

        movement of water volume of tissue cells
      A into the cells decreases
      B into the cells increases
      C out of the cells decreases
      D out of the cells increases

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        71 mark

        Which processes can only occur through a membrane?

          active transport diffusion osmosis
        A ✓ ✓ ✓
        B ✓ ✓ x
        C ✓ x ✓
        D x x ✓

        Key: 
        ✓ = yes
        x = no

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          81 mark

          A student cuts four cylinders from a potato. Each cylinder is 30mm long. The cylinders are all of the same diameter. 

          The potato cylinders are placed in sugar solutions of different concentrations. After one hour, the lengths of the cylinders are measured again. The results are shown in the table. 

          Which sugar solution has a water potential closest to that of the potato cells?

            concentration of sugar / g per dm3 starting length/mm length after one hour / mm
          A 35 30 33
          B 105 30 31
          C 135 30 27
          D 170 30 26

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            1
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            A group of students carried out an investigation into osmosis using cylinders of potato.

            The results from their experiment are shown below. 

            concentration of salt solution / mol dm-3 mass of potato cylinder at start / g mass of potato cylinder after 24 hours / g
            0.2 2.5 2.7

            Which statement below correctly explains this change in mass?

              movement of water cause of this movement
            A out of the potato cells the salt solution has a lower water potential than the potato cells.
            B out of the potato cells the salt solution has a higher water potential than the potato cells.
            C into the potato cells the salt solution has a lower water potential than the potato cells.
            D into the potato cells the salt solution has a higher water potential than the potato cells.

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              2
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              The image below shows part of a cross-section through a leaf.

              picture9

              Which row of the table below correctly shows the movement of various substances?

                evaporation of water movement of water by osmosis diffusion of water vapour
              A 3 1 2
              B 2 3 1
              C 3 2 1
              D 2 1 3

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                3
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                Two identical square pieces of beetroot are cut. Each square of beetroot has a mass of 3.0 g. One (S) is placed in a concentrated salt solution, the other (T) is placed in pure water.

                What would the masses of the two pieces of beetroot be after 3 hours?

                  mass of beetroot squares
                  S T
                A 3.0 3.2
                B 2.7 3.0
                C 2.9 3.2
                D 3.1 2.9

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                  4
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                  A group of students carried out an investigation into osmosis using cylinders of potato. 

                  The results from their experiment are shown below. 

                  concentration of salt solution / mol dm-3 length of potato cylinder at start / mm length of potato cylinder after 24 hours / mm
                  ? 35 33

                  Which statement below correctly explains this change in length and shows the concentration of the sugar solution?

                    concentration of sugar solution cause of this movement
                  A 0.0 the sugar solution is more concentrated than the solution inside the potato.
                  B 0.6 the solution in the potato is more dilute than the solution around the potato.
                  C 0.6 the solution in the potato is less dilute than the solution around the potato.
                  D 0.0 the sugar solution is less concentrated than the solution inside the potato.

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                    5
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                    The image below shows molecules in two solutions separated by a membrane. 

                    picture10

                    In which direction would there be movement?

                      water molecules solute molecules
                    A right to left no net movement
                    B left to right right to left
                    C left to right no net movement
                    D right to left left to right

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