Question 1

(20 marks)
Answer all questions
Every living organism constantly needs the exchange of substances such as nutrients,
wastes products and respiratory gases with the environment in order to survive and
grow.
The exchange of substances between the environment and the organism usually take
place through diffusion.
Unicellular organisms such as Amoeba sp. and Paramecium sp. obtain substances via
diffusion through cell surface due to their high total surface area to volume ratio.
However, in large multicellular organisms diffusion alone cannot ensure a constant
supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells due to their total surface area to volume ratio
are small.
The rate of diffusion can be determined by using a laboratory experiment. The aim of this experiment
to determine the relationship between the total surface area to volume ratio and the rate of coloured
water diffusion.
You are provided with a tray of colourless jelly, 5 % eosine solution, a sheet of transparency and filter
paper.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Based on diagram 1 and 2, plan and carry out the experiment to determine the relationship between
the total surface area to volume ratio and the rate of coloured water diffusion.
Diagram 1 and 2 show the set up apparatus for this experiment.
Carry out the experiment by using the following steps:
1. Cut the jelly into cubes with sides of 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm respectively as shown in Diagram 1.
2. Place a piece of sponge approximately 50 mm thick on the floor of a basin.
3. Use a little plasticine to fasten the sponge onto the floor of the basin.
4. Pour 5% eosin solution into the basin until 1mm away from the top of the sponge.
5. Wet the whole sponge with the solution.
6. Place the jelly cubes slowly on the sponge, as shown in Diagram 2.
7. Add the solution constantly to maintain its height of 1mm away from the sponge top.
8. After 5 minutes, remove the cubes and dry with filter paper.
9. Cut the cubes into half.
10. Observe and estimate the percentage portion of each cube with changes colour.
11. Repeat the experiment from step 1 to step 10 to get an average result.

Based on the experiment which has been carried out, answer the following questions:
(a) Construct a table and record the readings. (KB0606)

[3 marks]

(b) State why the height of the red-coloured portion of cube P, Q, and R is different? (KB0604)
[1 mark]
(c) Calculate the percentage of the red coloured portion P, Q and R. (KB0607) [2 marks]
(d) State a reason why the jelly cubes are needed to be place on the top of the sponge. (KB0612)
[1 mark]
(e) (i) Predict the rate of water diffusion if the side of jelly cube R is perforated with a few holes.
(KB0605)
[1 mark]
(ii) Give reason for your answer. (KB0604) [1 mark]
(f) Based on this experiment, deduce the meaning of diffusion operationally. (KB0609)
[2 marks]
(g) Your are required to repeat this experiment by replacing the jelly cube R with 5 cm sided
potato cubes. Explain the difference in the height of the red coloured portion between jelly
cubes and potato cubes.(KB0608)
[2 marks]

(h) Classify the apparatus and material according to their function on the procedure given.
(KB0602)
[2 marks]
(i) Based on this experiment, state the following variables: (KB0610)
(a) Manipulated variable
(b) Responding variable
[2 marks]
(j) State the hypothesis of the experiment carried out. (KB0611)
[3 marks]