Biology Matters G.C.E.

'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Movement of Substances

Investigation 3.1 (page 34)

2. The copper sulfate crystal dissolves in the water, forming a deep blue solution at the
bottom of the gas jar. Then the blue colour gradually spreads upwards through the water
until all the liquid in the gas jar is in the same shade of pale blue.
The dissolved copper sulfate particles diffuse from the bottom of the gas jar where they
are more concentrated, upwards to other regions where they are in lower concentration
or where they are absent. Diffusion stops when the copper sulfate particles are evenly
distributed throughout the liquid.

Test Yourself 3.1 (page 35)

1. Diffusion is the net movement of particles (atoms, ions or molecules) from a region
where they are of higher concentration to a region where they are of lower concentration,
that is, down a concentration gradient.

2. The steepness of the concentration gradient for a substance and temperature affect the
rate of diffusion.

3. Concentration gradient is the difference in concentration between two regions.

Investigation 3.2 (page 36)

4. The level of solution inside the thistle funnel rises in the first experiment, but remains the
same in the second experiment.
5. The cellophane paper is a partially permeable membrane.
In the first experiment, the concentration of water molecules in the beaker is higher than
that in the funnel. Therefore, water enters the funnel by osmosis.
In the second experiment, the concentration of water molecules inside and outside the
funnel is the same. Therefore, there is no net movement of water molecules.
6. The second experiment acts as a control.

Investigation 3.3 (page 41)

Refer to Experiment 2.3A of the practical book.

When the surrounding solution has a higher water potential than the cell sap, water leaves the
cells by osmosis. The cells shrink and become plasmolysed. The potato strip thus becomes
flaccid and smooth.
Conversely, when the cell sap of the potato strip has a lower water potential than the
surrounding solution, water enters the cells by osmosis. The cells increase in size and the
potato strip becomes turgid and rough.

Investigation 3.4 (page 42)

Refer to Experiment 2.3B of the practical book.
– Strip in water curls outwards. Cell sap of the strip has lower water potential than the
surrounding water. Hence water enters the cells by osmosis. However, the epidermal
cells are prevented from stretching by the inelastic cuticle layer. So only the inner cells
(cortex) expand, causing the strip to curl outwards.
– Strip in dilute sucrose solution remains more or less unchanged. This is because the cell
sap of the strip has the same water potential as the sucrose solution.
– Strip in strong sucrose solution curls inwards. Cell sap of the strip has higher water
potential than the sucrose solution. Hence water leaves the cells by osmosis. However,
the cuticle protects the epidermal cells against water loss. So only the inner cells (cortex)
shrink, causing the strip to curl inwards
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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 3

Test Yourself 3.2 (page 42)

1. Brine or syrups are so concentrated that they will be hypertonic to the cytoplasm of any
microorganism which gets into the food. The bacterium will rapidly lose water by osmosis
and die. Foods stored in brine include meat, while fruit is often stored in syrup.

2. (a) Water molecules will leave the bacterial cell by osmosis. Sugar molecules
will enter the bacterial cell by diffusion.
(b) The water potential of freshwater is higher than the water potential of the
cytoplasm of an amoeba. Excess water that enters the amoeba by osmosis
has to be pumped out by the contractile vacuole to prevent the amoeba from
bursting. Seawater has the same water potential as the cytoplasm of an
amoeba, hence there is no net movement of water in or out of the amoeba.

Investigation 3.5 (page 45)

Refer to Experiment 2.4 of the practical book.

Agar block A B C
Surface area 6 cm2 7 cm2 8.5 cm2
Volume 1 cm3 1 cm3 1 cm3
Surface area : 6:1 7:1 8.5:1
volume
Time for block to Takes the longest Time intermediate Takes the shortest
turn completely time between that for A time
pink and C

– With the same volume, the larger the surface area, the faster is the rate of absorption of
the acid (i.e. the rate of absorption increases as surface area to volume ratio increases).
– Cells in the body should have the shape of agar block C, which has the largest surface
area to volume ratio among the three agar blocks. This increases the rate of substances
entering or leaving the cells.

Test Yourself 3.3 (page 45)

1. Small cells have a large surface area to volume ratio, hence they are able to obtain
sufficient food and oxygen per unit time for their growth needs. They are also able to
remove waste products at a faster rate than larger cells.

2. It is important to have a large surface area to volume ratio for cells. If cells grow larger
than their optimum size, their surface area to volume ratio will decrease. Waste products
will accumulate in them. Food and oxygen also cannot diffuse fast enough for the cells'
growth needs. Eventually large cells will die.
(a) – The root hair cell has a long tubular protrusion called a root hair to
increase surface area for absorption.
– The epithelial cell has microvilli to increase surface area for absorption.
– The red blood cell has a flattened and biconcave shape to increase
surface area for absorption.
(b) The three cells have a large surface area to volume ratio.

Test Yourself 3.4 (page 46)

Dead cells do not respire. Active transport requires energy released from respiration.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 3

Get It Right (page 48)

(a) False
The steeper the concentration gradient for a substance, the higher the rate of
diffusion for the substance.
(b) False
Plasmolysis causes tissues to shrink.
(c) False
Living cells lose water when placed in a solution of lower water potential.
(d) True
(e) False
Active transport helps living cells to take in substances against a concentration
gradient.

Let’s Review (page 48)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. C
2. B

Section B: Structured Question

X, Y, Z

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. – Diffusion is the net movement of particles (atoms, ions, molecules) from a

region where they are of higher concentration to a region where they are of
lower concentration, that is down a concentration gradient.
– Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a solution of higher water potential
to a solution of lower water potential, through a partially permeable membrane.
– A partially permeable membrane is a membrane that allows certain substances to
pass through.

2. – Diffusion involves the movement of particles of any substance, gaseous or

liquid, whereas osmosis involves the movement of water molecules only.
– In addition, osmosis takes place across a partially permeable membrane whereas
diffusion does not require a partially permeable membrane.

3. – During sports, your body lose water and essential salts to the environment
through sweating. These essential salts and water can be replaced by the water you
drink.
– Sports drinks have the same water potential as the fluid in the cells of your
body so that there is no net movement of water into or out of cells.
– The cells will not absorb water and swell nor will they lose water and dehydrate.

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