1a

(a) The percentage change of the egg placed in the 0.4 mol dm -3 salt solution is:

• (1.3 / 74.2) x 100 = 1.75; [1 mark]

• = 1.8%; [1 mark]

Full marks awarded for the correct answer only

[Total: 2 marks]

1b
(b) The mass of the eggs in some solutions decreased because:

• The mass decreased when water moved out of the egg by osmosis; [1 mark]
• Through a partially permeable membrane; [1 mark]
• Because the solution it was in was more concentrated (and the solution in the
egg was more dilute); [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]
1c
(c) In order to determine an estimate of the concentration of the solution inside an
egg, the student will need to:
Any three of the following:

• Calculate the percentage change of each egg placed in a salt solution; [1

mark]
• Plot the percentage change in mass on a (scatter) graph; [1 mark]
• Draw a line of best fit; [1 mark]
• Determine the concentration where the line crosses the zero percentage
change (in mass); [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]

You may be asked to plot a graph and work this out for yourself. Make sure you feel
confident with your understanding of this process.
1d
(d) One safety precaution would be...

• Goggles / lab coat / tongs / tie hair / tuck tie away / gloves; [1 mark]

[Total: 1 mark]
2a
(a) The expected result would be...

• The colour/pigment of the beetroot would diffuse out into the water (changing
it to purple/red/pink); [1 mark]

[Total: 1 mark]
2b
(b) One variable that must be controlled to make the results comparable is...

Any two of the following:

• The cubes/pieces of beetroot must have the same dimensions / be the same
size (and shape) / have the same length on each side of the cube; [1 mark]
• (So that they all have) equal surface areas and volumes / surface area to
volume ratio; [1 mark]
• (Because) this could affect the rate at which the pigment diffuses out into the
water; [1 mark]

[Total: 2 marks]

Remember that control variables are factors that must be kept the same in an
experiment in order to make sure that only the independent variable causes the
results to vary.
2c
(c) The result was different at higher temperatures compared to room temperature
because...

Any three of the following:

• At higher temperatures particles have more (kinetic) energy; [1 mark]

 • This results in the faster movement of particles (compared to when they have
less energy); [1 mark]
• The pigment particles diffuse across the membrane faster at higher
temperatures; [1 mark]
• The cell membrane of the beetroot cells may become damaged at higher
temperatures (so more pigment can diffuse out); [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]
3a
(a) The statement is incorrect due to the following errors...

Any three of the following:

• Osmosis is a passive process (not active); [1 mark]

• The student does not specify that the membrane is partially permeable; [1
mark]
• The student does not specify water molecules; [1 mark]
• The student does not specify what the concentration relates to (i.e. whether it
is the solute or the water); [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]
3b
(b) The changes to cell B are...

Any one of the following:

• The cell has decreased/reduced in size; [1 mark]

• The cell appears to be shrivelled / spiky / crenated; [1 mark]
• The cell has lost its biconcave shape; [1 mark]

[Total: 1 mark]

Here you have been asked to describe the changes to a biological structure; no
marks are available for explaining what you can see.
3c
(c) The cell labelled B has changed shape because...

Any two of the following:

• There is (net) movement of water out of the cell; [1 mark]

• (Movement is) by osmosis; [1 mark]
• There are fewer water molecules / is a low water potential / a higher solute
concentration outside the cell OR there are more water molecules / is a higher
water potential / a lower solute concentration inside the cell; [1 mark]

Accept water concentration for water potential

[Total: 2 marks]
3d
(d) After being in water the red blood cells are likely to have...
Any three from the following:

• Burst/lysed (as the cell membrane ruptured); [1 mark]

• As there was a movement of water into the cell by osmosis; [1 mark]
• There are fewer water molecules / is a low water potential / a higher solute
concentration inside the cell OR there are more water molecules / is a higher
water potential / a lower solute concentration outside the cell; [1 mark]

Accept water concentration for water potential

[Total: 3 marks]

Again, take care to note the command words used here. For parts (c) and (d) you
need to explain what happens to the red blood cell, therefore, use your knowledge
of osmosis to give answers that explain why.
4a
(a) Diffusion is...

• The movement of molecules/liquid/gas from a region of higher concentration

to a region of lower concentration (until evenly distributed); [1 mark]

[Total: 1 mark]
4b
(b) (i) Two other factors that affect the rate of diffusion are...

Any two of the following:

• The concentration gradient OR the difference in concentration between the

two regions; [1 mark]
• The temperature; [1 mark]
• The thickness of the membrane separating the two regions / the diffusion
distance; [1 mark]

(b) (ii) These two factors affect the rate of diffusion as follows...

Any relevant two answers from the following:

• The greater the difference in concentration / the steeper the concentration

gradient, the quicker the rate of diffusion; [1 mark]
• The greater the temperature, the quicker the rate of diffusion; [1 mark]
• The thinner the membrane / shorter the diffusion distance, the quicker the rate
of diffusion; [1 mark]

The description must match the factors given in part (i).

[Total: 4 marks]
4c
(c) The completed table is as follows:
Length of one side of the cube (cm) Surface area of cube (cm2) Volume of cube (cm3)
1 6 1
2 24 8; [1 mark]
3 54; [1 mark] 27
Allow error carried forward if volume of 2cm cube is calculated incorrectly

[Total: 3 marks]

4d
(d) (i) An explanation of the results of the experiment is...

• As the surface area : volume ratio increases, it takes longer for the diffusion to
occur / the cube to turn colourless; [1 mark]
• This is because the acid has to diffuse through more jelly/further distance to
travel (to reach the centre of the cube); [1 mark]

(d) (ii) The results support this conclusion by...

Any one of the following:

• Bacteria cells are small/large SA: vol ratio, the smallest cube in the
experiment took the shortest time to diffuse; [1 mark]
• Humans are too big/SA: vol ratio too small to rely on just diffusion, the largest
cube took the longest time to diffuse; [1 mark]

(d) (iii) The student could improve the experiment by...

 • Repeating the experiment / testing more than one of each size cube; [1 mark]

[Total: 4 marks]

Sometimes it can be tricky to get your head around an unfamiliar experiment but this
is something that you will be asked to do in your exams. Remember that you will
never be asked about something that you haven't covered the theory for.
5a
(a) Adaptations of this cell for the transportation of nutrients are...

• Large surface area due to folded membrane / microvilli; [1 mark]

• Mitochondria (carry out respiration) to provide energy for active transport; [1
mark]

[Total: 2 marks]

If you are asked to explain you cannot just list the adaptations, you also need to link
them to cell transport.
5b
(b) The epithelial cell needs to be able to carry out both forms of transport because...

• If there was only diffusion, then transport would stop when concentrations of
nutrients were the same both inside and outside the cell OR diffusion only
transports substances/nutrients from an area of high concentration to low (this
is not always the case in the intestine); [1 mark]
• Active transport is needed to transport substances/nutrients when they are in
low concentration in the intestine / against the concentration gradient; [1 mark]

[Total: 2 marks]

This is important to prevent valuable nutrients from being lost in faeces!

5c
(c) The process of active transport of glucose is as follows...

Any three of the following:

• Glucose enters the carrier protein (from area of low glucose concentration); [1
mark]
• (The carrier protein uses) energy/ATP; [1 mark]
• Carrier protein changes shape; [1 mark]
• The glucose is released on the other side of the membrane (area of high
glucose concentration); [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]

5d
(d) A comparison of osmosis and active transport is...

Similarities
Minimum of one of the following:

• Both involve transporting substances; [1 mark]

• Both take place across a membrane; [1 mark]

Differences

Minimum of two of the following:

• Active transport is from low to high concentration/against a concentration

gradient whereas osmosis is from high to low water potential; [1 mark]
• Active transport involves a carrier protein whereas osmosis does not; [1
mark]
• Osmosis is the transport of water only whereas active transport involves the
transport of many other things; [1 mark]

Accept water concentration for water potential

[Total: 4 marks]

Don't forget to use your comparative language.

6a
(a) Factors that affect the rate of movement of substances into and out of cells
include...

Any five of the following:

• Temperature increases (kinetic) energy / particle movement / more

collisions; [1 mark]
• A (bigger) difference in concentration / concentration gradient increases the
rate of movement; [1 mark]
• A short(er) distance increases diffusion / a short diffusion distance increases
the rate of movement; [1 mark]
• Larger surface area to (volume ratio) increases diffusion; [1 mark]
• Lower mass / if the size of the particle is smaller particles move faster; [1
mark]
• Larger particles / charged particles cannot pass through the cell membrane; [1
mark]
• (Increased) oxygen / ATP / respiration / energy for active transport; [1 mark]

[Total: 5 marks]
6b
(b) Differences between diffusion and active transport are as follows...

Any four of the following:

• Diffusion is passive; [1 mark]

• Diffusion is the movement (of particles) from high concentration to low /
requires concentration gradient; [1 mark]
• Active transport requires ATP / energy / oxygen / respiration; [1 mark]
 • Active transport requires membrane / carrier proteins; [1 mark]
• Diffusion can take place in non-living systems; [1 mark]

Accept converse points where appropriate

[Total: 4 marks]

Converse points can be accepted for the majority of the marking points in this mark
scheme, but note that you cannot be awarded a mark for saying that active transport
is 'active' alone, it must be qualified by explaining the need for ATP to move particles
against the concentration gradient.