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Respiration: exam questions

5 questions, 16 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

1

Respiration is an exothermic reaction. What does this mean?

  1. Energy is transferred to the surroundings
  2. Energy is taken in from the surroundings
  3. Oxygen is used up
  4. Carbon dioxide is produced
[1 mark]
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Answer: A A (energy is transferred to the surroundings)

2

Write the word equation for aerobic respiration.

[2 marks]
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  • glucose + oxygen (1)
  • → carbon dioxide + water (1) allow correct balanced symbol equation
3

Describe how a respirometer can be used to compare the rate of respiration of germinating seeds at two different temperatures.

[4 marks]
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  • place seeds in a tube with soda lime / carbon dioxide absorber, connected to a capillary tube with a drop of coloured liquid (1)
  • place the tubes in water baths at the two temperatures (1)
  • measure the distance the liquid moves in the same time (1)
  • control variables, for example the same mass of seeds and the same time (1)
  • repeat and calculate a mean (1)
  • Max 4
4

In a respirometer experiment, the coloured liquid moved 12 mm in 4 minutes at 20 °C and 30 mm in 5 minutes at 30 °C. Calculate the rate of movement at each temperature in mm per minute and state how many times faster the rate of respiration was at 30 °C.

[3 marks]
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  • 20 °C: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 mm per minute (1)
  • 30 °C: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 mm per minute (1)
  • twice as fast / 2 times (1)
5

Compare the process of aerobic respiration with the process of anaerobic respiration.

[6 marks]
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LevelMarksWhat the answer does
35–6A detailed comparison covering oxygen requirement, energy released and the products in animals and in plants or yeast. Similarities and differences are clearly linked.
23–4Some similarities and differences are described, but the comparison is incomplete, for example products for only one type of organism.
11–2Basic statements about one or both types of respiration, with little or no comparison.

Indicative content

  • both are exothermic reactions that release energy from glucose
  • both happen in living cells to release energy for metabolic processes
  • aerobic respiration needs oxygen, anaerobic respiration does not
  • aerobic respiration breaks glucose down completely, anaerobic is an incomplete breakdown
  • aerobic releases much more energy per glucose molecule
  • aerobic products are carbon dioxide and water
  • anaerobic products in animals: lactic acid
  • anaerobic products in plants and yeast: ethanol and carbon dioxide