Movement of substances (In class activity)

Question 1

In an experiment, a biologist measured the rate of absorption of four nutrients in a rat’s small
intestine before and after adding cyanide. Cyanide is a poison that interferes with the release
of energy from cells. The results of his experiment are shown in Table 2.1.

rate of absorption / arbitrary units per second

nutrient
before adding cyanide after adding cyanide
amino acid 1.52 0.45
glucose 1.30 0.33
fructose 1.23 0.25
galactose 1.20 0.18

Table 1.1

(a) Calculate the difference in amount of fructose that will be absorbed by the rat’s small
intestine under normal and poisoned conditions, in 1 minute. [2]
(b) State the processes involved in the transport of sugars across the intestine. [1]
(c) Which sugars are transported by each process you have named in (b)?
Give reasons for your answer. [4]

Answer Mark
(a) (1.23x60) –(0.25x60) 1
=58.8 arbitrary units [No units -1m] 1

(b) Diffusion and active transport 1

(c) Active transport 1

(d) Glucose, fructose and galactose are all transported by diffusion and active 1
transport.
Cyanide interrupts the release of energy/respiration and hence active 1
transport cannot occur.
The rate of absorption drastically reduced for the 3 types of sugars after 1
the addition of cyanide, showing that the 3 types of sugars are absorbed
by active transport.
Absorption still occurs in the absence of cyanide, showing that the 3 types 1
of sugars are also absorbed by diffusion.
Question 2

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of solutions on different

concentrations of potato tissue. The apparatus was set up as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 2.1
(a) Name the process which will occur when the potato is in contact with the distilled
water. [1]
(b) State the direction in which the air bubble will move and explain. [4]
(c) Suggest how and why the experimental results would differ (if at all) if a cooked
potato is used instead. [3]

Answer Mark
(a) osmosis 1

(b) To the left 1

Distilled water has a higher water potential than potato 1
Net movement of water molecules from the distilled water into the potato 1
Through partially permeable membrane 1

(b) Bubble will not move 1

When potato is boiled, the cell membrane is destroyed. 1
There is no net movement of water molecules. 1