Grade: IGCSE Subject: Biology (610)

1 Catalase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to form water and
oxygen.

A student investigated the activity of catalase in tissues from two different plants.

The oxygen produced during the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide forms a foam.

The height of the foam can be used as a measure of the activity of the catalase present in plant
tissue.

The student used this method:

Step 1 Label one test-tube P and another test-tube A.

Step 2 Cut a cylinder of tissue from a potato and a cylinder of tissue from an apple.

Step 3 Cut a potato cylinder into five equal pieces. Each piece should be approximately 4 mm in
length, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

cut to form five pieces

4 mm

2 cm long potato cylinder

Fig. 1.1

Step 4 Put all five potato pieces into test-tube P. Place the test-tube in a test-tube rack.

Step 5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 using the apple cylinder and the test-tube labelled A.

Step 6 Use a syringe to put 15 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide solution into test-tube P.

Step 7 Start a stop-clock and wait for five minutes.

Step 8 After five minutes, place a ruler against the outside of test-tube P and measure the
maximum height of the foam.

Step 9 Repeat steps 6 to 8 with test-tube A and the pieces of apple.

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 Fig. 1.2 shows a diagram of test-tube P and test-tube A in step 8 and step 9.

test-tube P test-tube A

gas bubble that

is part of the foam

hydrogen
peroxide solution

test-tube

desk
potato apple

Fig. 1.2

(a) (i) Measure the maximum heights of the foam in test-tube P and test-tube A in Fig. 1.2.

Prepare a table and record these measurements in your table.

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 (ii) State a conclusion for the results.

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(iii) State the independent and dependent variables in this investigation.

independent .......................................................................................................................

dependent ..........................................................................................................................
[2]

(iv) State two variables that were kept constant in this investigation.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(v) Identify one possible source of error in step 8 and describe an improvement to the
method that would eliminate this error.

error in step 8 ....................................................................................................................

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improvement .....................................................................................................................

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[2]

(vi) Identify one safety hazard when carrying out this investigation and describe how the risk
of this hazard could be reduced.

safety hazard .....................................................................................................................

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method of reducing risk ......................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

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 (b) Describe how you could test samples of potato and apple to determine if vitamin C is present.

Give the result of a positive test.

test ............................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

result .........................................................................................................................................

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[2]

(c) Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch to form reducing sugars.

Plan an investigation to determine the effect of temperature on the rate of breakdown of

starch by amylase.

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............................................................................................................................................. [6]

[Total: 20]

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2 Fig. 2.1 is a photomicrograph of part of an egg case from a species of stick insect,
Acrophylla titan.

Fig. 2.1

(a) (i) Draw a large diagram of the part of the egg case shown in Fig. 2.1.

[4]

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 (ii) Line PQ on Fig. 2.2 represents the length of the whole egg case.

Fig. 2.2

The actual length of the egg case is 4.5 mm.

Measure the length of line PQ on Fig. 2.2.

length of line PQ .............................. mm

Calculate the magnification of the photomicrograph using the formula and your
measurement.

length of line PQ
magnification = actual length of the egg case

Give your answer as a whole number.

Space for working.

................................................................
[3]

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 (iii) Fig. 2.3 shows photomicrographs of the egg cases of Acrophylla titan and another species
of stick insect, Lonchodes amaurops. The magnification of both photomicrographs is the
same.

Acrophylla titan Lonchodes amaurops

Fig. 2.3

State three visible differences between the two egg cases shown in Fig. 2.3.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

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2 ........................................................................................................................................

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3 ........................................................................................................................................

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[3]

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 (b) The rate of respiration in a stick insect can be measured using a simple respirometer, as
shown in Fig. 2.4.

As the stick insect respires the drop of coloured liquid moves along the capillary tube.

ruler
Start

mesh barrier cm
1 2 3 4 5 6

capillary drop of
potassium stick insect tube coloured liquid
hydroxide to absorb airtight
carbon dioxide bung

ruler
After 30 minutes

mesh barrier cm
1 2 3 4 5 6

drop of capillary
potassium stick insect coloured liquid tube
hydroxide to absorb airtight
carbon dioxide bung

Fig. 2.4

(i) Record the position in mm of the drop of coloured liquid in the capillary tube shown in
Fig. 2.4 at the start and after 30 minutes.

start .................................................... mm

after 30 minutes .................................................... mm

[1]

(ii) The capillary tube has an internal radius of 0.25 mm.

Using the information in 2(b)(i), calculate the volume of oxygen used by the stick insect
in 30 minutes.

Use a value for π of 3.14.

Space for working.

....................................................... mm3
[2]
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 (iii) Using your answer to 2(b)(ii), calculate the rate of oxygen use by the stick insect.

................................ mm3 per minute [1]

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 (c) Scientists used a respirometer to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of oxygen
use by stick insects.

The results of the investigation are shown in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

temperature rate of oxygen use

/ °C / mm3 per mg per minute
10 0.58
15 0.96
20 1.10
25 1.24
30 1.30

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