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A-LevelBiologyCell membranes and transport9700/33 · May/June 2025 · Q122 Marks

When plant tissue is placed into a solution of sodium chloride, water moves between the sodium chloride solution and the cells in the plant tissue. You will investigate the effect of surface area of plant tissue on the movement of water between a sodium chloride solution and the cells in a sample of plant tissue. You are provided with the materials shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 labelled contents hazard volume/cm³ P 5 cylinders of plant tissue in distilled water none - S 2.0 mol dm⁻³ sodium chloride solution none 200 It is recommended that you wear suitable eye protection. You will need to: • cut cylinders of plant tissue into different lengths • soak different lengths of plant tissue in sodium chloride solution for 20 minutes • measure the final length of the plant tissue. Carry out step 1 to step 12. step 1 Using the forceps, put the cylinders of plant tissue onto the white tile. step 2 Cut each cylinder of plant tissue to 40 mm length. The cylinders of plant tissue all have the same diameter, as shown in [Figure 1.1]. The radius is calculated by dividing the diameter by 2. diameter [Figure 1.1] To investigate the effect of surface area, you will use one whole cylinder of plant tissue and cut the other cylinders into a different number of pieces. step 3 Label five beakers with the number of pieces of plant tissue (n) as shown in Table 1.2. Table 1.2 beaker labelled number of pieces of plant tissue (n) length (h) of each small piece/mm 1 1 40 2 2 20 4 4 10 8 8 5 16 16 2.5 step 4 Put one whole cylinder of plant tissue into the beaker labelled 1. step 5 Cut each of the other four cylinders of plant tissue into the number of pieces shown in Table 1.2 and put them into the appropriately labelled beaker. In step 6 you will use a syringe to measure the volume of sodium chloride solution, S, you will put into each beaker. step 6 Put the volume of S you stated in (a)(ii) into each of the beakers. step 7 Start timing and wait for 20 minutes. Use this time to continue with other parts of Question 1. [Figure 1.2] shows an example of how to calculate the total surface area of plant tissue placed in each beaker. EXAMPLE: a cylinder with a length of 40 mm diameter length, h = 40 mm surface area of cylinder = 2πr² + 2πr h = (2 x 3.14 x r²) + (2 x 3.14 × r × 40) where: π = 3.14 r = radius of cylinder = diameter ÷ 2 h = height or length of cylinder The total surface area depends on the number of pieces, n. Total surface area = surface area of one cylinder × number of pieces = (2πr² + 2πrh)n [Figure 1.2] step 8 After the 20 minutes (step 7), pour the sodium chloride solution from around the cylinder of plant tissue in beaker 1 into the container labelled For waste. Put the plant tissue onto the white tile. step 9 Measure the length of the cylinder of plant tissue. Record this length in (a)(v). step 10 Repeat step 8 for beaker 2. step 11 Place the cylinders of plant tissue end-to-end so that they are touching. Measure their total length, as shown in [Figure 1.3]. Record this length in (a)(v). total length [Figure 1.3] step 12 Repeat step 10 and step 11 using the plant tissue in beaker 4, beaker 8 and beaker 16. A student investigated the effect of different concentrations of sodium chloride solution on red blood cells. The student: • counted the number of whole red blood cells in six samples of blood • put each sample into a different concentration of sodium chloride solution for 10 minutes • counted the number of whole red blood cells remaining in each concentration • calculated the number of red blood cells remaining as a percentage of the number of red blood cells in each sample at the start. The results are shown in Table 1.4. Table 1.4 percentage concentration percentage number of whole of sodium chloride red blood cells remaining 0.00 0.0 0.40 3.0 0.50 10.0 0.65 46.0 0.80 96.0 0.90 100.0

  1. (a)(i)Measure the diameter of one cylinder of plant tissue and calculate the radius, r. diameter = r=[1]
  2. (a)(ii)State the volume of S that you will put into each beaker and give a reason for the volume that you have stated. volume of S cm³ reason[1]
  3. (a)(iii)Complete Table 1.3 by calculating the total surface area of the whole piece of plant tissue (1) and the total surface area for the plant tissue cut into 16 pieces. Use the formulae shown in [Figure 1.2]. Show your working in Table 1.3. Table 1.3 n h/mm surface area of one piece/mm² total surface area/mm² 1 40 16 2.5[2]
  4. (a)(iv)Describe what happens to the total surface area when one whole cylinder of plant tissue is cut into 16 smaller pieces.[1]
  5. (a)(v)Record your results in an appropriate table.[5]
  6. (a)(vi)With reference to the total surface area, describe the trend in your results.[1]
  7. (a)(vii)Explain the trend you described in (a)(vi).[2]
  8. (a)(viii)State one source of error in this investigation when measuring the dependent variable in step 11 and step 12.[1]
  9. (a)(ix)Suggest how you could modify this procedure to investigate the effect of temperature on the movement of water between the sodium chloride solution and the cells in the plant tissue.[2]
  10. (b)(i)Plot a graph of the data shown in Table 1.4 on the grid in [Figure 1.4]. Use a sharp pencil.[4]
  11. (b)(ii)State the concentration of sodium chloride solution that has the same water potential as the red blood cells. sodium chloride concentration = %[1]
  12. (b)(iii)With reference to water potential, explain the effect of 0.4% sodium chloride solution on red blood cells.[1]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] diameter of the cylinder stated and the correct radius and appropriate units, mm or cm ;
  2. [1] volume of S stated and a correct reason e.g. so that the cylinders of potato are completely submerged ;
  3. [1] 1 shows the surface area of one piece and the total surface area when n = 1 and h = 40mm ;
  4. [1] 2 shows the surface area of one piece and the total surface area when n = 16 and h = 2.5mm ;
  5. [1] (the total surface area) increases ;
  6. [1] 1 heading for independent variable: number of pieces / cylinders of potato and to the left of the dependent variable ;
  7. [1] 2 heading for dependent variable: total length with appropriate units (mm or cm) ;
  8. [1] 3 length for each of the five cylinders of potato ;
  9. [1] 4 expected trend (the higher number of pieces the shorter the total length);
  10. [1] 5 results recorded in whole mm;
  11. [1] correct description of the trend according to the candidates' results ; e.g. as the surface area increases the length decreases
  12. [2] (as the number of pieces of potato increases, there is an increase in the total surface area) any two from: 1 increases the (total) surface area in contact with the sodium chloride solution ; 2 increased surface area to volume ratio ; 3 (so) there is a shorter (diffusion) distance (to the cells in the middle of the potato cylinder);
  13. [1] exactly lining up cylinders is difficult as there will be gaps between them and they are not straight / AW ;
  14. [1] 1 use, the same surface area / one length of plant tissue ;
  15. [1] 2 use five different temperatures ;
  16. [1] 1 x-axis: percentage concentration of sodium chloride and y-axis: percentage number of whole red blood cells remaining ;
  17. [1] 2 scale on x-axis: 0.2 to 2 cm, labelled at least every 2 cm and scale on y-axis: 20 to 2 cm, labelled at least every 2cm;
  18. [1] 3 correct plotting of all six points using small dots in circles or crosses ;
  19. [1] 4 six plots joined with thin line passing through all points ;
  20. [1] 0.9%;
  21. [1] 0.4% sodium chloride solution has a higher water potential than the red blood cells and water enters the cells and (so) they burst ;

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About this question

Topic
Cell membranes and transport, A-Level Biology (syllabus 9700). Structured question, 22 marks.
Source
A-Level Biology, May/June 2025 Paper 3 Variant 3, question 1.

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