Chapter 3 Movement of Substances

Investigation 3.1 (page 34)

2. The copper sulfate crystal dissolves in the water, forming a deep blue solution at the bottom of the
gas jar. Then the blue colour gradually spreads upwards through the water until all the liquid in the gas
jar is in the same shade of pale blue.
The dissolved copper sulfate particles diffuse from the bottom of the gas jar where they are more
concentrated, upwards to other regions where they are in lower concentration or where they are absent.
Diffusion stops when the copper sulfate particles are evenly distributed throughout the liquid.
Test Yourself 3.1 (page 35)
1. Diffusion is the net movement of particles (atoms, ions or molecules) from a region where they are of
higher concentration to a region where they are of lower concentration, that is, down a concentration
gradient.
2. The steepness of the concentration gradient for a substance and temperature affect the rate of
diffusion.
3. Concentration gradient is the difference in concentration between two regions.
Investigation 3.2 (page 36)
4. The level of solution inside the thistle funnel rises in the first experiment, but remains the same in the
second experiment.
5. The cellophane paper is a partially permeable membrane.
In the first experiment, the concentration of water molecules in the beaker is higher than that in the
funnel. Therefore, water enters the funnel by osmosis.
In the second experiment, the concentration of water molecules inside and outside the funnel is the
same. Therefore, there is no net movement of water molecules.
6. The second experiment acts as a control.
Investigation 3.3 (page 41)
Refer to Experiment 2.3A of the practical book.
When the surrounding solution has a higher water potential than the cell sap, water leaves the cells by
osmosis. The cells shrink and become plasmolysed. The potato strip thus becomes flaccid and smooth.
Conversely, when the cell sap of the potato strip has a lower water potential than the surrounding
solution, water enters the cells by osmosis. The cells increase in size and the potato strip becomes
turgid and rough.
Investigation 3.4 (page 42)
Refer to Experiment 2.3B of the practical book.
– Strip in water curls outwards. Cell sap of the strip has lower water potential than the surrounding
water. Hence water enters the cells by osmosis. However, the epidermal cells are prevented from
stretching by the inelastic cuticle layer. So only the inner cells (cortex) expand, causing the strip to curl
outwards.
– Strip in dilute sucrose solution remains more or less unchanged. This is because the cell sap of the
strip has the same water potential as the sucrose solution.
– Strip in strong sucrose solution curls inwards. Cell sap of the strip has higher water potential than the
sucrose solution. Hence water leaves the cells by osmosis. However, the cuticle protects the epidermal
cells against water loss. So only the inner cells (cortex) shrink, causing the strip to curl inwards
Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 3
© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited 3.2
Test Yourself 3.2 (page 42)
1. Brine or syrups are so concentrated that they will be hypertonic to the cytoplasm of any
microorganism which gets into the food. The bacterium will rapidly lose water by osmosis and die. Foods
stored in brine include meat, while fruit is often stored in syrup.
2. (a) Water molecules will leave the bacterial cell by osmosis. Sugar molecules
will enter the bacterial cell by diffusion.
(b) The water potential of freshwater is higher than the water potential of the
cytoplasm of an amoeba. Excess water that enters the amoeba by osmosis
has to be pumped out by the contractile vacuole to prevent the amoeba from
bursting. Seawater has the same water potential as the cytoplasm of an
amoeba, hence there is no net movement of water in or out of the amoeba.
Investigation 3.5 (page 45)
Refer to A B C
Experiment 2.4 of
the practical book.
Agar block
Surface area 6 cm2 7 cm2 8.5 cm2
Volume 1 cm3 1 cm3 1 cm3
Surface area : 6:1 7:1 8.5:1
volume
Time for block to Takes the longest Time intermediate Takes the shortest
turn completely time between that for A time
pink and C