Answers to Biology for IGCSE Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Summary Questions page 70.

(Suggested marks are given in square brackets)

1 large surface area to trap as much light as possible

green contains chlorophyll to absorb light
veins transport water and ions to leaf cells
stomata to allow gases to diffuse in and out of the leaf
thin gases can diffuse easily to all the leaf cells [5]

2 (a) photosynthesis process by which plants make glucose from raw materials using
energy from light [1]

(b) stomata small holes (pores) in epidermis, allows gases to diffuses into and out of
the leaf, opened and closed by guard cells [1]

(c) fertiliser artificial or natural substance added to soils by farmers to replace nutrients
(e.g. nitrate / potassium / phosphate) absorbed by plants [1]

3
light
carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
chlorophyll

1 mark for raw materials,1 mark for products, 1 mark for light and chlorophyll [3]

light = source of energy;

carbon dioxide and water are raw materials;
glucose = product;
oxygen = by-product; [4]

4 green pigment that absorbs light; [1]

5 plants require nutrients to make compounds for growth; nitrogen (as nitrate) is
required to make amino acids, that are used to make proteins; magnesium is used to
make chlorophyll to absorb light for photosynthesis [2]

6 carbon dioxide diffuses into leaves from the air; through stomata; water absorbed by
osmosis; by root hairs; from the soil [4]

7 sugar are used to

provide energy in respiration; make starch for energy storage; make cellulose for cell
walls; combine with nitrogen (from nitrate) to make amino acids; make oils for
storage; make to sucrose for transport in the phloem; [5]

8
light
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
chlorophyll

1 mark for raw materials,1 mark for products, 1 mark for light and chlorophyll [3]
 light = source of energy;
carbon dioxide and water are raw materials;
glucose = product;
oxygen = by-product; [4]

9 A limiting factor is something present in the environment that is in short supply and
restricts a life process, such as photosynthesis [1]

carbon dioxide concentration; light intensity; temperature [3]

10 carbon dioxide burn, butane / natural gas; pump carbon dioxide into glasshouse
water sprinklers; humidifiers
light artificial lighting
temperature electric heaters; ventilator flaps [5]

Chapter 6 Exam-Style Questions page 70-71.

Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

1 A
2 D
3 B
4 C

Short Answer Questions

5 (a) E upper epidermis;

F palisade mesophyll;
G spongy mesophyll;
H lower epidermis; [4]

(b) I - (cuticle on upper epidermis) reduces water loss; NOT prevents water loss
J (guard cells) open and close stomata; close to reduce water loss; open to allow
carbon dixoide to diffuse in; [3]

(c) F (palisade mesophyll cell) and G (spongy mesophyll cell) contain many chloroplasts;
containing chlorophyll; to absorb much light; to provide energy for photosynthesis;
[3]

(d) air spaces between cells allow carbon dioxide to diffuse; quickly to cells; gases
circulate throughout the leaf; [3]

6 (a) to destarch them;

make sure leaves contain no starch at the beginning; so any starch has been
produced during the investigation; [2]

(b) so no limiting factors /l energy and water are not limiting factors; so only item missing
is carbon dioxide which is being investigated; [2]
 (c) take a leaf from the plant; decolourise it; by boiling in ethanol until green colour
disappears; test with iodine solution; yellow indicates that no starch has been
made / blue-black indicates that starch has been made; [4]

(d) as a control;
to show that absence of carbon dioxide causes lack of starch;
keeping the plant inside a plastic bag did not cause lack of starch; [2]

7 (a)(i) move the lamp; to different distances; [2]

(ii) either count the bubbles, over a stated time period (e.g. one minute / five minutes)
or measure the volume of gas collected in the test-tube, over a stated period of time;
[2]
(iii) keep temperature of water in the beaker constant; by adding hot/cold water as
appropriate; by placing the beaker in a thermostatically-controlled water bath;
use a thermometer to take the temperature of water in the beaker (close to the
plant); to 3 max

add fresh sodium hydrogencarbonate solution at intervals; [4]

(b) graph shows a slope and a plateau

slope as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases;

(see X on Figure 6.5.1 on page 64)
light intensity is the limiting factor;
not enough energy for the maximum rate of photosynthesis;

plateau as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis remains constant;

(see Y on Figure 6.5.1 on page 64)
light intensity is not the limiting factor;
another factor is limiting (e.g. carbon dioxide concentration / temperature); [4]

8 (a) M cannot make amino acids so cannot make proteins; for growth; no nitrogen for
making chlorophyll;

N cannot make chlorophyll; so cannot make its own food by photosynthesis;

so no materials (carbohydrate / sugars) for growth; [4]

(b) as a control; to show the design of the experiment is not responsible for the changes
in colour of leaves and growth; [2]