Exercises

Plasma membrane- Sample QS

The figure shows a fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane (a) Explain the functions of the structures X, Y and Z in the movement of substances across the plasma membrane [4 marks] (b) All movements of substances have to pass through a plasma membrane. Explain why the plasma membrane is known as a semi permeable membrane (6 marks)

Suggested Answer:
(a) Structure X allows hydrophobic molecules which can dissolve in lipids such as fatty acids, glycerol, steroid hormones, vitamins A, D, E and K to move in and out of the cell. Structure Y allows bigger molecules which do not dissolve in lipids like glucose and amino acids to move in and out of the cell. Structure Z allows small charged molecules to move in and out of the cell. (b)

The plasma membrane is known as a semi permeable membrane because it only allows the passage of certain molecules and limits the passage of other molecules. It consists of two layers of phospholipids with protein molecules scattered in them Molecules that can pass through the plasma membrane easily are those that can dissolve in lipid and small uncharged molecules. Molecules which cannot move through the plasma membrane but require proteins include large molecules that do not dissolve in lipid and small charged molecules. Channel protein does not require the binding of a molecule and conformational change to open. Channel protein allows molecules to steadily diffuse across the membrane through diffusion. However a carrier protein allows specific molecules to cross the cell membrane by undergoing a conformational change upon the binding of the molecule. The conformational change opens a hole through which the molecule can enter or leave a cell. Questions for you to try out: 1. Cucumber slices are immersed in 0.1% sucrose solution. After 3 hours, the slices are found to be turgid and hard.Which of the following statements explains this phenomenon? A The cucumber cell wall prevents it from shrinking B The cell sap is hypotonic towards the sucrose solution

C The high concentration of the cell sap in the vacuole causes water to diffuse in D The cucumber cell wall allows the sucrose molecules to diffuse into the cell 2. A plant cell immersed in distilled water. Which of the following is true about the movement of water molecules in the early stage? A The rate of water molecules exiting the cell is higher than entering the cell B The rate of water molecules entering the cell is higher than exiting the cell C No water molecules are entering or exiting the cell D The rate of water molecules entering and exiting the cell is the same 3. Siti is going to prepare some mango pickle. First, she cuts and washed the mangoes. Then she adds vinegar and sugar to the mangoes. After one month, the mango pickle remains in good edible condition because I The pH of the solution is low II The bacteria that cause food spoilage loses water to the surroundings III The dehydrated condition of the fruit inhibits the grouth of bacteria IV The high concentration of vinegar in the pickles is not conducive to the growth of bacteria A I, II and III only B I, III and IV only C II, III and IV only D I, II, III and IV 4. A plasmolysed cell can revert to its normal condition by being A Immersed in pure water B Immersed in a concentrated salt solution C Immersed in 10% sugar solution D Taken out quickly from the solution 5. Which of the following processes is affected by the presence of a metabolic poison? A Absorption of water by root hairs B Uptake of iodine by algae living in the sea C Absorption of digested food in the small intestine D The movement of amino acids across the plasma membrane 6. Preservation of the food by eliminating water from the food involves A osmosis B simple diffusion C active transport D facilitated diffusion ESSAY QUESTION:

1(a) A student made the following observation. The effects of distilled water on red blood cells differ from those on onion cells when both are placed in equal volumes of distilled water. Explain the students observation. [5 marks]

(b) Some housewives believe soaking vegetables in salt solution before cooking can help eliminate the harmful effects of insecticides that are sprayed on the vegetables. (i) Explain why vegetables become soft if they are soaked too long in salt solution. (ii) Suggest how the housewives can restore the vegetables which Have become floppy to their normal condition. [5 marks] Suggested Answer:

1(a)- Distilled water is hypotonic to the cytoplasm of red blood cells and the cell sap of the onion cells.(1m) - Osmosis occurs, resulting in a net flow of water from the surrounding into the cell.(1m) - The red blood cells will swell and eventually burst (1m) - The vacuoles in the onion cells expand, and the plant cells become turgid (1m) - However, the cell wall prevents the onion cells from bursting because it is tough and rigid (1m) ----5m ----(b)(i) -Vegetables which are soaked too long in a salt solution will become soft because the salt solution is more hypertonic than the cytoplasm of the vegetable cells (1m) -Water flow out of the cells, causing the cytoplasm and the vacuoles to shrink (1m). -The plasma membranes pull away from the cell walls (1m) -In this condition, the cells are said to be plasmolysed (1m) (ii) To make the vegetables crisp again, housewives can soak the vegetables in water (1m) -----5m -----QUESTION : Diagram shows the movement of substances through the cell membrane .

(a) Give one example of particles that move through P , Q and R. P: Q: R : [ 3 marks]

(b) (i) What is the type of passive transport that occur at Q [1 mark] ii) State two features of the particle that enables it to pass through the phospholipid bilayers of the cell membrane [2 marks] (c) Explain why protein molecules are needed in the transportation of certain molecules across the membrane ? [2 marks] (d) A poisonous substance , cyanide enters the cell . After a while , certain particles could no longer pass through passage R , but passage P and Q are still functional . Explain why. [4 m] SUGGESTED ANSWER: a) P : glucose / amino acid Q : water / carbon dioxide / oxygen / small lipid soluble particles R : natrium / potassium ions b) (i) simple diffusion (ii) small soluble to phospholipid bilayers (c) to enable large particles to pass through / to enable particles insoluble to the phopholipid bilayer to pass through the cell membrane / to enable particles to move against the concentration gradient (d) cyanide is a poison that halts aerobic respiration -No ATP is produced -Since active transport needs ATP ,

-the transport of substances are also stopped -For passive transport ,( P and Q ) , it does not need ATP -therefore the movement of substances still occur. QUESTION 2. The cell sap concentration in a plant tissue depends on the water content of its cell sap. When in a hypertonic solution, the cell sap loses water and become flaccid. In a hypotonic solution, the water content of the cell sap will increase causing the cell to expand and become turgid. In an isotonic solution, the plant cell maintains its shape because the cell sap concentration is equal to the concentration of the solution outside the cell. Plan a laboratory experiment to determine the isotonic concentration of a potato cell. The planning of the experiment should cover the following aspect:

(i) Objective of study (ii) Statement of hypothesis (iii) Variables (iv) List of apparatus and materials (v) Experimental procedure (vi) Presentation of results (vii) Conclusion Step 1: ...IDENTIFY i. Manipulated Variable ii. Responding Variable iii. Fixed/constant variable

SUGGESTED ANSWER: Aim: To Investigate what concentration of sucrose solution is isotonic to potato cell sap. Problem statement : How to determine the concentration of an isotonic solution to potato cell sap ? Hypothesis: The sucrose solution which is isotonic to potato cell sap is the solution that shows no change of mass of the potato strip. Variables: Manipulated variable: Different concentration of sucrose Responding variable: Mass of the strips Fixed variables: Length of the strips, volume of the solutions, time of immersion. List of apparatus and materials: Potato, sucrose solution of different concentrations of solutions of sucrose; Core borer, glass beakers,forcep,electronic balance, ruler,string, filter paper,white tile, knife, tissue paper Technique: Measure and RECORD the mass or length of strips using electronic balance/ ruler

Procedure: 1. Pour 100ml of the assigned sucrose solutions into their 250ml beakers ,labeled A,B,C,D, and E 2. Obtain a large potato. Using a core borer, take 20 samples out of the potato. 3 Measure each in centimeters so that they are all equal in length (use the knife to slice off ends). Make sure not to leave any skin with the samples. 4.Place these cores in a covered beaker until an electronic balance can be obtained. 5.Determine the mass of four cores at a time, placing the four in their sucrose solutions. 6.Record this data for each of the six beakers. 7.Allow these potato samples to sit immersed in the solutions 8 hours, covered. 8.Remove the cores, blot off excess solution, and weigh the samples, recording the mass in the data table. 9.Determine the mass difference and the percent change in mass 10.Graph the increase and decrease in mass of the potato cores according to the molarity of the solutions they were placed in on graph . Results: (Table with UNITS..)

Plot graph Sucrose concentrations against the percent changes. From the graph, select the point that cross the x-axis to get the value of isotonic point. Conclusion: The sucrose solution which is isotonic to potato cell sap is the point on the plotted graph that cross the x-axis. Hypothesis accepted

SPM 2006 Paper 2- Essay Question 7(a) Plasma membrane encircles the protoplasm of a cell. As a whole plasma membrane exhibits fuidity as if it is a layer of oil in a beaker of water. What is meant by plasma membrane exhibits fluidity? [4 marks] SUGGESTED ANSWER: Plasma membrane exhibits fluidity because : it is very soft extremely thin consist of two layers of lipid (phospholipids) various types of protein molecules are inserted within the two layers of lipids form a membrane that is not static/ free moving/dynamic it is strong structure / not easily broken

[ Any 4 please...] Question: What is the difference between the behavior of Channel Protein and Pore protein? Answer: Channel proteins do not require the binding of a molecule and conformational change to open. Channel proteins allow molecules to diffuse across the membrane through diffusion . whereas Carrier protein allow specific molecules to cross the cell membrane by undergoing a conformational change upon the binding of the molecule. The conformational change opens a hole through which the molecule can enter or exit a cell.

SPM 2007-Paper 2 Question 2(b) State two characteristicsof the phospholipid bilayer. [2 marks]
Suggested Answer: 1. It consists of hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail 2.Hydrophilic head is attracted to water 3.Hydrophobic tail is attracted to lipid/ tail is facing to each other 4. The bilayer is mobile/ not static/ dynamic