Onions are vegetables that are harvested from the plant Allium cepa. In many countries, small onions are used to make pickled onions. Pickled onions can be stored for a long time because the growth of microorganisms is prevented.
Pickled onions are made using this method.
• Remove the dry outer layer from small onions.
• Place the onions in a sodium chloride solution for several hours.
• Remove the sodium chloride solution and place the onions in a solution of ethanoic acid (vinegar).
Fig. 1.1 shows a container of pickled onions and some fresh onions that have not been pickled.
dry outer
layer of onion
container of
pickled onions
fresh onion
[Figure 1.1]

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Cell membranes and transport in A-Level Biology (syllabus code 9700). It is worth 17 marks.

Q: Which exam paper is this question from?

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology Feb/Mar 2024 examination, Paper 5 Variant 2 (9700_m24_qp_52.pdf).

Question

Onions are vegetables that are harvested from the plant Allium cepa. In many countries, small onions are used to make pickled onions. Pickled onions can be stored for a long time because the growth of microorganisms is prevented.
Pickled onions are made using this method.
• Remove the dry outer layer from small onions.
• Place the onions in a sodium chloride solution for several hours.
• Remove the sodium chloride solution and place the onions in a solution of ethanoic acid (vinegar).
Fig. 1.1 shows a container of pickled onions and some fresh onions that have not been pickled.
dry outer
layer of onion
container of
pickled onions
fresh onion
[Figure 1.1]

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