O LevelBiologyCambridgeExam Questions4. Biological Molecules4.1 Biological Molecules

Biological Molecules (Cambridge O Level Biology)

Exam Questions

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4.1 Biological Molecules

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4.1 Biological Molecules

1a
Sme Calculator6 marks

Grapes are soft fruits that contain sugars. Some students investigated the concentration of reducing sugars in grapes.

Step 1

The students determined the volume of the grapes by placing 50 cm3 of distilled water into a measuring cylinder.
Step 2 Four grapes were placed into the measuring cylinder and the total volume of the distilled water and grapes was measured.

Fig. 1 shows the total volume of the distilled water and grapes in the measuring cylinder.

screenshot-2022-10-17-14-57-15

Fig. 1

Table 1

Total volume of distilled water and grapes in the measuring cylinder / cm3 Total volume of the grapes / cm3
   

i)

Calculate the total volume of the four grapes using the information in Step 1 and Fig. 1

Write your answers in Table 1

[1]

ii)

Calculate the average volume of one grape using your answer to a) i). 

Give your answer in cm3.

[1]

Step 3 Three test-tubes were labelled, S1, S2 and S3. 
Step 4 5.0 cm3 of a sugar solution (S) was added to test-tube S1. 
Step 5 1.0 cm3 of solution S and 4.0 cm3 of distilled water were added to test-tube S2. The contents of S2 were mixed.  
Step 6 0.2 cm3 of solution S and 4.8 cm3 of distilled water were added to test-tube S3. The contents of S3 were mixed. 
Step 7 Grape juice was extracted from ten grapes. 
Step 8 5.0 cm3 of the extracted grape juice was placed into a test-tube labelled G. 
Step 9 5.0 cm3 of Benedict’s solution was added to each of test-tubes S1, S2, S3 and G. 
Step 10 Test-tubes S1, S2, S3 and G were placed into an 80 °C water-bath. 
Step 11 The time at which a colour change first appeared in each test-tube was recorded.  
Step 12 Steps 3 to 11 were repeated to obtain a second set of results. 

Fig. 2 shows the students’ results in minutes and seconds.

screenshot-2022-10-18-10-07-36

Fig. 2

iii)

Prepare a table to record the results, shown in Fig. 2

Your table should include:

  • The solutions tested.
  • The time, in seconds, of the first appearance of a colour change in each solution.

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1b
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i)

The concentration of reducing sugar in solution S1 is 200 g per dm3.

The concentration of reducing sugar in solution S3 is 8 g per dm3.

Calculate the concentration of reducing sugar in solution S2, using the information in step 5. Give your answer in g per dm3.

[2]

ii)

State a conclusion for the reducing sugar investigation.

[1]

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1c
Sme Calculator5 marks

i)

State one variable that was kept constant in the reducing sugar investigation.

[1]

ii)

The method used to estimate the concentration of reducing sugar in grapes contains potential sources of error.

State one source of error and suggest an improvement to minimise the error.

[2]

iii)

Identify one safety precaution that should be used when carrying out this investigation and give a reason for this precaution.
[2]

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1d
Sme Calculator2 marks

Grapes develop in large groups attached to their parent plant. As they develop, grapes increase in size and ripen.

Fig. 3 shows one group of grapes.

screenshot-2022-10-18-10-26-55

Fig. 3

A student suggested that the concentration of reducing sugars in grapes changed as the grapes developed and ripened.

Describe how the method used in steps 3 to 12 could be modified to determine if there is a change in the concentration of reducing sugars in grapes during development.

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1e
Sme Calculator9 marks

Some students placed eight grapes, that had been picked at different ages, into water. They measured the change in the volume of the grapes after 24 hours.

Table 2 shows the results of this investigation.

Table 2

Age of grapes when picked / days Starting volume of grapes / cm3 Final volume after 24 hours / cm3 Percentage change in volume
12 5.0 5.5 10
24 7.6 8.5 12
36 12.0 13.7 14
48 17.0 19.7 16
60 22.0 26.0 18
72 25.0 30.0 20
84 30.0 36.6  
96 36.0 45.0 25
108 42.0 54.6 30
120 55.0 74.3 35

i)

Calculate the percentage change in the volume of grapes aged 84 days.

Write your answer in Table 2.

Show your working.

[2]

ii)

Plot a line graph on the grid of the age of the grapes against the percentage change in volume.

screenshot-2022-10-18-10-38-11

[4]

iii)

Describe the trends shown by the results in Table 2 and your graph.

[2]

iv)

State the variable that was changed (independent variable) in this investigation.

[1]

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2
Sme Calculator6 marks

Adult monarch butterflies feed on nectar. Nectar is a liquid that is produced by plants.

Plan an investigation to determine the types of food molecules that nectar contains.

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3a
Sme Calculator5 marks
A class investigated the protein content of powdered milk. Each class group had five standard solutions of milk powder and two unknowns. They used a calibration curve from which to estimate the concentration of protein in the two unknown samples of milk powder.

Each group carried out the following method:

  1. Set out seven test tubes and label them 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, X and Y
  2. To each tube, add 10 cm3 of the milk powder solutions at each concentration and two unknown concentrations. 
  3. Add 5 cm3 of enzyme solution to the first tube (1%). Shake to mix thoroughly, and immediately start the stopwatch.
  4. Record the time it takes for the solution to become clear by marking a cross on a piece of white paper, view the cross through the mixture, and record the time it takes for the cross to become visible.
  5. Repeat with the other concentrations of milk powder, both known and unknown.
(i)

Explain why it is necessary to start the stopwatch immediately after the enzyme has been added to the milk powder solutions.

[2]

(ii)

Suggest how many repeat readings the students should carry out. 

[1]

(iii)

Describe what the students should do if they identify anomalous results.

[2]

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3b
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The results collected quantitative results. The test for protein is usually a qualitative test.

(i)

Describe the test for protein using a qualitative reagent and include what would be expected from a positive result. 

[2]

(ii)

Explain why a qualitative test for protein is less precise than a quantitative test for protein. 

[1]

(iii)

A piece of equipment called a colorimeter can determine the end point for a reaction, such as the one described in part (a). The colorimeter analyses the colour of a sample compared to an existing standard, usually distilled water. 

Explain why using a colorimeter would increase the accuracy of the experiment carried out by the class. 

[2]

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3c
Sme Calculator7 marks

Table 1 below shows the class' results. 

Table 1

  time taken for solution to clear / sec
student group 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% X Y
1 44 56 67 81 103 51 82
2 48 59 65 85 106 48 98
3 54 63 71 81 128 56 85
4 57 66 73 86 98 45 85
5 44 49 69 78 95 52 79
6 45 53 75 74 115 48 86
7 63 51 65 81 105 56 91
8 39 58 66 84 93 51 87
9 42 53 71 88 110 54 86
10 45 59 73 91 117 55 83
Mean 48 57 70 83 107    

(i)

Calculate the mean values for the samples X and Y.

[2]

(ii)

Plot a graph of mean time taken for the solution to clear against concentration. 

Graph template

[3]

(iii)

Use the graph plotting in part (ii) to determine the concentration of samples X and Y. 

[2]

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3d
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One group of students used a beaker to measure out 10cm3 of the milk powder solution. Another group used a measuring cylinder. 

(i)

Explain which piece of apparatus is more accurate. 

[2]

(ii)

Identify two sources of error that could have occurred as part of the method outlined in part (a). 

[2]

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