Diffusion & Osmosis (Cambridge O Level Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours28 questions
1a
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2 marks

Molecules may move by the process of diffusion.

Define the term 'diffusion'.

1b
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2 marks

Give two reasons why diffusion is important to living organisms.

1c
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3 marks
Fig. 1 is a cross section through a leaf showing the movement of several substances (A, B and C) through the stomata during the day.

TbhePR-e_plant-tissue

Fig. 1

Identify substances A, B and C.

1d
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2 marks

Describe the movement of substance A in Fig. 1.

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2
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1 mark

Fig. 1 shows particles of two gases.

diffusion-1

Fig. 1

Sketch the arrangement of the gas particles after 1 hour.

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3a
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2 marks

Water is important for living organisms as many substances are able to dissolve in it.

Give two examples of the importance of water as a solvent in living organisms.

3b
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1 mark

Fig. 1 shows water and a sugar solution separated by a partially permeable membrane.

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Fig. 1

State the overall direction in which water molecules will move.

3c
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2 marks

Osmosis occurred in Fig. 1.

Define the term 'osmosis'.

3d
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2 marks

A second beaker, similar to the one from Fig. 1, was set up and placed in a water bath that was 10°C lower than the beaker from Fig. 1.

Explain how the movement of the water molecules would be affected by this decrease in temperature.

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4a
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2 marks
Fig. 1 shows two cells after the effects of osmosis.

osmosis-in-plant-cells-1

Fig. 1

Identify the correct description for each cell by drawing a line between the cell and the box that contains the most accurate description.

4b
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2 marks
A student carried out an experiment on osmosis in plant tissue. They set up their investigation as shown in Fig. 2.

potatos-and-sucrose-1

Fig. 2

Each beaker contained potato discs in a solution of sugar or distilled water. The student found that the potato discs in Beaker 5 decreased in mass.

Explain the reason for this.

4c
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1 mark
Give one example of a variable that would need to be controlled during the experiment from part (b).

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1a
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3 marks
A student decided to investigate the effect of different sugar solutions on the mass of chicken eggs.

They used the following method:

  1. Five eggs were placed in hydrochloric acid for 24 hours to dissolve the eggshell.
  2. The mass of each egg was measured and recorded.
  3. Five beakers were set up; four with 200 cm3 of sugar solution of different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mol dm-3) and one with distilled water (0 mol dm-3).
  4. An egg was place in each of the beakers for 1 hour.
  5. The eggs were removed and dried with a paper towel whereafter the mass of each egg was measured and recorded.
  6. The percentage change in the mass of each egg was calculated and a graph was drawn from these results.

Fig. 1 represents the graph that was drawn of the percentage change in mass.


rtXEV8i4_change-in-mass-of-egg

Fig. 1

Use the information in Fig. 1 to describe the results obtained in each beaker.

1b
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3 marks
(i)

Use the graph in Fig. 1 to identify the concentration of the sugar solution where the mass of the egg would not change.

[1]

(ii)

Explain why the mass of the egg would not change at the concentration identified at part (i).

[2]

1c
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3 marks
Explain the results that were obtained in the beaker with a concentration of 0.8 mol dm-3.

1d
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4 marks

Diffusion and osmosis are two ways in which molecules can move.

Compare diffusion and osmosis with each other.

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2a
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1 mark
Fig. 1 shows two plant cells, each placed in a solution with a different concentration.

plant-cells_hypertonic

Fig. 1

Which of the plant cells above (A or B) was placed in a solution that was more dilute than the cell contents?

2b
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4 marks
Explain what has happened to the plant cell you identified in part (a).

2c
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4 marks
When placed in different solutions, animal cells will also change.

Fig. 2 below shows a red blood cell.

red-blood-cell

Fig. 2

(i)

Describe what would happen if a red blood cell was placed in a solution that was more dilute than the cell contents.

[2]

(ii)

Explain why the description at part (i) would be different from what would happen to a plant cell.

[2]

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1a
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3 marks
Particulate matter (PM) refers to the small particles in air pollution which can irritate the airways and caused damage to the alveoli. Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs across which gas exchange by diffusion occurs.

Fig. 1 shows the structure of an alveolus with a capillary running next to it.


structure-of-an-alveolus

Fig. 1

If concentrations of PM are high, the epithelium cells of the alveoli may be killed and replaced with unspecialised cells resulting in:

  • Fewer functioning alveoli
  • Thickening of alveolar walls

Explain how particulate matter would affect the process of gas exchange in human lungs.

1b
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3 marks
Fig. 2 shows the results of an investigation into the concentration of particulate matter and the percentage of dead alveolar epithelium cells after 48 of exposure.

particlate-matter-1

Fig. 2

Scientists studied 31 080 alveolar epithelium cells in this study.

Calculate how many more cells died after 48 hours of exposure to 1 000 µg cm-3 of particulate matter than after 48 hours of exposure to 50 µg cm-3 of particulate matter.

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2a
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5 marks
A student carried out an investigation into the effect of osmosis on plant tissue. 

They cut a potato into cubes and recorded the change in mass over a 30 minute period.

Fig. 1 shows the results the student obtained from one cube of potato.

osmosis-and-potatos-1
 
Fig. 1
 

Describe and explain the trend shown on the graph.

2b
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2 marks

The potato cube from Fig. 1 had an initial mass of 2.5 g.

Calculate the percentage increase that the potato cube had shown after 15 minutes.

2c
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2 marks

The student repeated the investigation but with the beaker placed in a water bath at 30°C.

Draw a second line on the graph to show the trend expected from these results.

2d
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4 marks
Explain your line drawn for part (c).

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3a
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3 marks

Diabetes insipidus is a disease that results in a large amount of dilute urine being excreted by the kidneys. This leads to blood which is more concentrated than normal.

Explain the effect that diabetes insipidus may have on red blood cells.

3b
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2 marks

One of the symptoms of diabetes insipidus is blue fingernails, which indicates a lack of oxygen.

Suggest an explanation for this.

3c
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3 marks

Central diabetes insipidus is a form of the disease that is believed to have a negative effect on the bone density of a sufferer which may leave them with an increased risk of sustaining fractures.

A study was conducted on the effect of central diabetes insipidus on the risk of sustaining fractures.

  • The study was done at a hospital and included men and women between the ages of 45 and 65 that were admitted with bone fractures.
  • Men and women were divided up into two groups each; those with diabetes insipidus and those without.
  • Each of the four groups consisted of 250 individuals.
  • The data gathered was used to calculate the percentage prevalence of fractures in each group.

Fig. 1 shows the results of this study.


emvts0eg-picture2

Fig. 1

Calculate the difference in the number of men suffering from fractures between those with diabetes insipidus and those without. Show your calculations.

[3]

3d
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4 marks

The scientists concluded that diabetes insipidus does increase the risk of sustaining fractures.

Evaluate this conclusion.

[4]

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4a
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2 marks
Monoglycerides are molecules made up of glycerol and one fatty acid tail. They are absorbed into the epithelial cells of the small intestine by diffusion across the cell membrane.

Some people suffer from coeliac disease that affects the lining of their small intestine.

Fig. 1 compares the lining of the small intestine of a healthy person and a person suffering from coeliac disease.

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Fig. 1

Based on the information provided, explain the effect that coeliac disease would have on the absorption of monoglycerides.

4b
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3 marks
Fig. 2 shows the rate of uptake of monoglycerides in the small intestine.

monoglycerides-1

Fig. 2

Describe and explain what the graph shows.

4c
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3 marks

Human body temperature is approximately 37 °C, which provides the optimum temperature for activity of protein molecules such as enzymes. 

Suggest why a temperature of 37 °C helps to maximise the rate of transport of substances across the cell membrane.

4d
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3 marks
Fig. 3 shows the concentration of sugars in three different cells. X, Y and Z.

osmosis-from-cell-to-cell-1

Fig. 3

Describe and explain the movement of water between the cells in Fig. 3.

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