Answer Scheme (Biology Paper 3: Final Semester 1 May 2016)

Question 1
(a)
(b)

(i)

- initial mass = 50

(i)

- final mass = 60, 54, 46, 42

Observation 1
-

At 0.2M sucrose solution, the final mass of potato strip is

60g.

Observation 2
(ii)

At 0.8M sucrose solution, the final mass of potato strip is

42g.
Inference 1
-

0.2M sucrose solution is hypotonic solution, water

molecules diffuse into the potato cells by osmosis

Inference 2
-

0.8M sucrose solution is hypertonic solution, water

molecule diffuse out of the potato cells by osmosis.

(c)

3
Method to handle the variables
Manipulated
variable
Concentration of
sucrose solution
Responding
variable

By using different concentration of sucrose

solution; 0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M and 0.8M sucrose
solution
Measure and record the final mass of potato
strip by using a compression balance

Final mass of
potato strip after
1 hour
Constant
variable

Fix and use the same type of solution,

Type of solution //

sucrose solution

Time taken to

Fix and use the same time to immerse the

immerse the

potato discs at 1 hour

potato strip
Initial mass of

Fix and use the same initial mass of potato

potato strip
Length of potato
strip

strip, 50g
Fix and use the same length of potato strip,

(d)

4cm
- The concentration of sucrose solution which is isotonic to the

(e)

cell sap of potato does not change the mass of potato strip
(i)
Concentra

Initial

Final mass

Percentag

tion of

mass of

of potato

e change

sucrose

potato

strip, g

in mass of

solution,

strip, g

potato

M
0.2

strip, %
20

60

0.4

50
50

54

0.6

50

46

-8

0.8

50

42

-16

(ii)
Both axes with correct units (A)
All points plotted correctly (P)

Smooth curve touching all points (C)

(f)

- *0.5M.
- The percentage change in mass is zero
- because the rate of water that diffuses in and out of the cell is equal.

(g)

* Accept 0.48 0.50M (based on the graph drawn).

- Final mass of potato strip is predicted to be more than 46g / any
value more than 46g

(h)

- Distilled water is hypotonic to the cell sap of potato

- so more water diffuse into the potato cells by osmosis.
Osmosis is a process where water molecules move from a region
of high water concentration to a region of low water
concentration through a semi-permeable membrane which can
be determined by (RV) measuring the final mass of the potato strip
by using (apparatus) a compression balance at fix (CV) type of
solution and is affected by (MV) concentration of sucrose solution.

(i)

Solution concentration

Type of solution

(%)
0.25

Hypotonic solution

0.65

Hypotonic solution

1.10

Hypertonic solution

TOTAL 33