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A-LevelBiologyPhotosynthesis9700/52 · Feb/Mar 2021 · Q28 Marks

Indigo carmine is a water-soluble indicator. When oxygen is bubbled through a solution of this indicator, the colour changes from colourless to blue. A student used indigo carmine solution to investigate some of the factors that may limit the rate of photosynthesis. Fig. 2.1 shows the apparatus used by the student. [Figure 2.1] The student prepared four sets of this apparatus. For each set of apparatus, the student used a different concentration of 5cm³ sodium hydrogencarbonate solution: 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00%. Sodium hydrogencarbonate solution is a source of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. After adding indigo carmine solution and sodium hydrogencarbonate solution to the alginate beads, the apparatus was illuminated with a bench lamp from a distance of 20 cm. To minimise heating effects, the bench lamp used an LED bulb. For each concentration of sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, the time for the indigo carmine solution to turn from colourless to blue was recorded. The investigation was repeated with four new sets of apparatus illuminated with the same bench lamp at a distance of 10cm, instead of 20cm. The same concentrations of sodium hydrogencarbonate solution were used as previously. All other variables in this investigation were standardised.

  1. (a)(i)State the dependent variable in this investigation.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)State one variable that needed to be standardised in this investigation, other than temperature or those variables clearly standardised in Fig. 2.1.[1]
  3. (b)(i)The time taken for each indigo carmine solution to turn blue was converted to a rate of photosynthesis in arbitrary units. This was done in such a way that the slowest rate of photosynthesis in this investigation was given a value of 1.00 arbitrary units. All other rates of photosynthesis were therefore greater than 1.00 arbitrary units. Table 2.1 shows the results of this investigation and some of the student's calculated values. [Table 2.1] Complete Table 2.1 by calculating the missing rate of photosynthesis in arbitrary units.[1]
  4. (b)(ii)State three conclusions that can be made from the results shown in Table 2.1 about factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis and when these factors become limiting.[3]
  5. (b)(iii)Confidence in conclusions that are made from the results shown in Table 2.1 is reduced by a lack of repeats and a lack of statistical analysis. Suggest two other reasons that reduce confidence in conclusions that are made from the results shown in Table 2.1.[2]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. time taken for, indigo carmine / solution / indicator, to, turn blue / change colour ;
  2. number / mass, of beads (of immobilised cells);
  3. size / surface area, of beads ;
  4. concentration of alginate ;
  5. density / number, of cells / protoctists ;
  6. ambient/background / AW, light (intensity);
  7. pH;
  8. concentration of indicator;
  9. species/type, of protoctist / unicell / AW ;
  10. 2.55;
  11. 1 idea that increasing, hydrogencarbonate / carbon dioxide, (concentration) increases, the rate of photosynthesis / the rate / photosynthesis / the rate of reaction / ora ;
  12. 2 idea that increasing, light intensity, increases, the rate of photosynthesis / the rate / photosynthesis / the rate of reaction / ora ;
  13. 3 ref. to when carbon dioxide / hydrogencarbonate, is a limiting factor using information from Table 2.1 ;
  14. 4 ref. to when light is a limiting factor using information from Table 2.1 ;
  15. 1 idea of, (small) range / number / AW, of different concentrations of, (sodium hydrogencarbonate / carbon dioxide) solution;
  16. 2 idea of, (small) range / number / AW, of different light intensities ;
  17. 3 idea of outside air has not been excluded so change in colour may not be due only to oxygen produced ;
  18. 4 idea that colour change is, subjective / difficult to see ;
  19. 5 idea that only, one species / a protoctist / a unicell, is tested (so may not be valid for all species / types, of photosynthetic organisms;

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About this question

Topic
Photosynthesis, A-Level Biology (syllabus 9700). Structured question, 8 marks.
Source
A-Level Biology, Feb/Mar 2021 Paper 5 Variant 2, question 2.

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