Biology 0610/53 May/June 2025: question paper and mark scheme

Question

Potato cells contain the enzyme catalase. Catalase catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. The oxygen gas forms a foam. The height of the foam indicates how active the enzyme is. You are going to investigate the effect of temperature on the activity of the enzyme catalase. Read all the instructions but DO NOT DO THEM until you have drawn a table for your results in the space provided in 1(a)(i). You should use the safety equipment provided while you are doing the practical work. Step 1 Label three test-tubes C, R and H and place them in the test-tube rack. Step 2 Use the large syringe to add 4 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide solution from the beaker labelled hydrogen peroxide solution to each of the test-tubes labelled C, R and H. Step 3 Place test-tube C into the beaker labelled cold water-bath. Step 4 Leave test-tube R in the test-tube rack. Step 5 Place test-tube H into the empty beaker labelled hot water-bath. Step 6 Raise your hand when you are ready for hot water to be added to your hot water-bath. Step 7 Start the stop-clock and leave the test-tubes for five minutes. Step 8 After five minutes, use the small syringe to put 1 cm3 of the potato extract from the beaker labelled P into test-tube C. Start the stop-clock and observe the reaction for 30 seconds. Step 9 After 30 seconds, measure the height of the foam produced in test-tube C in mm. Record this measurement in your table in 1(a)(i). Step 10 Repeat step 8 and step 9 for test-tube R and test-tube H. * 0000800000003 * DFD 3 (a) (i) Prepare a table and record your results. [4] (ii) State a conclusion for your results. …… [1] (iii) State the independent and dependent variables in the investigation. independent variable …… dependent variable …… [2] * 0000800000004 * DFD 4 (iv) Explain why test-tube C and test-tube H were kept in the water-baths for five minutes in step 7. …… [1] (v) A student suggests repeating the investigation twice more. Explain how this would give you more confidence in your results. …… [1] (vi) Potato extract can be prepared by cutting a potato into pieces and then grinding it with a mortar and pestle and some water. Describe a safety precaution that would reduce the hazards in producing potato extract using this method. …… [1] (b) (i) Another student did the same experiment and measured the height of the foam in one of the test-tubes as 29 mm. The diameter of the test-tube was 25 mm. Calculate the volume of foam produced, and give your answer in cm3 to one decimal place. Use 3.14 as the value for π. …… cm3 [3] (ii) Suggest a more accurate method of measuring the volume of oxygen gas produced. …… [1] * 0000800000005 * DFD 5 (c) Potatoes are a source of starch and vitamin C. (i) Iodine solution was used to test a sample of potato for starch. State the result of a positive test for starch. …… [1] (ii) State the name of a reagent that can be used to test for vitamin C. …… [1] (d) Photosynthesis also produces oxygen gas. Plan an investigation to determine the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis in aquatic plants. …… [6] [Total: 22] * 0000800000006 * DFD 6

Question

(a) Fig. 2.1 is a photograph of an acorn from a Caucasian oak, Quercus macranthera. P Q magnification ×3.4 Fig. 2.1 (i) Make a large drawing of the acorn in Fig. 2.1. [4] * 0000800000007 * DFD 7 (ii) Line PQ represents the length of the acorn in Fig. 2.1. Measure the length of line PQ in Fig. 2.1. length of line PQ …… mm Calculate the actual length of the acorn using the formula and your measurement. length of line PQ in Fig. 2.1 magnification = actual length of the acorn Give your answer to two significant figures. Space for working. …… mm [3] DFD 8 * 0000800000009 * DFD 9 (iii) Fig. 2.2 shows photographs of acorns from a Caucasian oak and from a Turkey oak, Quercus cerris. nut cupule magnification ×3.4 Fig. 2.2 Describe two visible differences between the acorns in Fig. 2.2. 1 …… 2 …… [2] * 0000800000010 * DFD 10 (b) Different species of oak tree have acorns of different masses. Scientists investigated if the mass of acorns affected the proportion of acorns that germinated in three different species of oak tree. • The scientists took 100 acorns from each of three species of oak tree. • The mass of each acorn was measured and recorded. • Each acorn was then placed in a pot with the same type of soil in a dark room at 25 °C and watered every 48 hours. • The scientists recorded the proportion of acorns that had germinated in 60 days. (i) State two factors that were kept constant in the investigation described in 2(b). 1 …… 2 …… [2] The results are shown in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 species of mean mass of proportion of acorns oak tree acorns / g that germinated A 0.52 0.44 B 1.92 0.56 C 2.30 0.64 * 0000800000011 * DFD 11 (ii) Plot a bar chart on the grid of all the data in Table 2.1. Include a key on your bar chart. [4] (iii) The study measured 100 acorns for each species. Suggest why a large number of acorns was measured. …… [1] * 0000800000012 * DFD 12 (iv) Water is required for germination. The scientists measured the mass of one acorn from each species. The acorns were then dried in an oven and the mass of each acorn was measured again. The scientists used these data to calculate the percentage water content of the acorns. The results are shown in Table 2.2. Table 2.2 initial mass of dried mass of percentage water species of oak tree the acorn the acorn content of the acorn /g /g A 0.49 0.36 26.5 B 1.96 0.74 C 2.34 0.98 58.1 Calculate the percentage water content of the acorn from species B. …… % [1] (c) State the name of the reagent used to test for protein. …… [1] [Total: 18]