Suggested Answers

1. B
2a)
It is correct that osmosis takes place from 5% sucrose solution to 10% sucrose
solution, but process is NOT reverse of diffusion for the following reasons:

For both diffusion and osmosis, the substances that are moving are moving
DOWN the concentration gradient;

There are only different in the following ways (but NOT reverse of each other):

1. Osmosis is special kind of diffusion – diffusion of solvent (e.g. water);

2. Description of diffusion is referring to movement of solute down a

concentration gradient of that solute whereas osmosis is referring to
movement of solvent down a water potential gradient;

3. Osmosis needs the presence of partially permeable membrane. In diffusion,

the membrane can be absent, or even be fully permeable;

1
2b)
Water outside the cell has a higher w.p. than that of the cell sap;

Water potential gradient develops, water enters the cell by osmosis;

Water enters into sap vacuole, exerting an outward pressure, causing the sap
vacuole to expand;

Thus the cytoplasm pushing against the cell wall;

This outward pressure is the turgor pressure;

As the cell expands slightly, it will not burst because the cell wall is rigid & strong;

Cell wall exerts an (opposing) inward pressure to prevent the cell from further
expanding;

This inward pressure is the wall pressure;

When turgor pressure = wall pressure, cell cannot expand any further, no more
water can enter by osmosis and the cell is now fully turgid;

3(a) Plasmolysed 1
(i)
(ii) Solution P is of lower water potential than the plant cell sap; ½

Water molecules move from the plant cell sap into solution P; ½

by osmosis through partially permeable cell membrane; ½

Cell cytoplasm reduces in size and shrinks away from cell wall. ½

(iii) Red blood cell will shrink and become crenated. 1

2
4a. With increase in oxygen concentration, iodine concentration in algal cells
increases (1).
4b. Active transport (1). Oxygen is required to produce energy during
respiration (1) for the pumps to bring iodine into the algal cells.
4c. The potato strip will turn blue black (1). There is a higher concentration of
iodine molecules in the solution surrounding the potato (1). Iodine
molecules diffuse into the potato (1) as they are small enough to pass
through the cell surface membrane and stain the starch in potato (1). (Max
3 marks)

5 (a) In tube A, there is a lower water potential outside of the beetroot cells;
(Reject: hypertonic solution)
Water potential gradient is established, exosmosis occurs;
Net loss of water from vacuoles results in decrease in mass;
(b)In tube B, there is a higher water potential outside of the beetroot cells,
(Reject: hypotonic solution)
Water potential gradient is established;
Endosmosis occurs, vacuoles swell and push cytoplasm against cell
wall, cells become turgid;
Strips become longer and firmer;
(c) (i) Plasma membranes are dissolved by the organic solvent;
Higher concentration of pigments in cells, pigments diffuse out;
(ii) In tube B, plasma membranes are still intact, purple pigments do
not pass through the partially permeable membrane;
Liquid outside does not turn purple;
In tube D, high temperature would cause plasma membranes to break
down;
Higher concentration of pigments in cells, pigments diffuse out, liquid
outside turns purple;

3
 Graph of concentration against %
change

20
10
% change

0
Series1
-10 1 2 3 4 5 6
Series2
-20
-30
-40
Concentration of sucrose
(mol/dm3)
6a)
6(a) Title; plotting of axis correctly; and clearly showing interception point on
graph;
(b) Initial mass = 1.55 g
Final change = 28%
Hence final mass = 1.55 x 28/100 = 0.434 g;

= 1.55 – 0.434 = 1.116g = 1.12 g;

(correct to 2 dp)
(c) The water potential in the potato was higher than that of the solution;
Water moved out from the potato vacuoles into the sucrose solution
by osmosis;
(d)

Labels: cytoplasm , cell surface membrane (showing it has shrunk away from cell wall);

cell wall (showing that it remains the same);

cell sap (in the vacuole).