CHAPTER 2 : NUTRITION AND FOOD PRODUCTION

2.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING GOOD NUTRITION AND PRACTISING GOOD

EATING HABIT

1. An analysis of the contents of a food packet is shown in table below.

Nutrient Percentage
Carbohydrate 3.5%
Fats 4.5%
Protein 20.0%

(a) What is the function of

(i) Carbohydrates?
Provide energy for the body

(ii) Proteins?
Growth and repair of damaged tissues

(b) State two other classes of food that are not in table above for a balanced diet.
Fibres/ Mineral salts / Vitamins/ Water
(c)
(i) State one class of food that is important for a pregnant mother.
Proteins

(ii) Explain your answer in 2 (c)(i).

Proteins are needed to form new tissues for the foetus and mother

2. Diagram below shows the set-up of apparatus used by a student to carry out an experiment to
compare the calorific values of two types of food.

The results of experiment was recorded as shown in Table

 Type of food Food P Food Q
Mass of water (g) 20 20
Increase in temperature (oC) 30 50
Mass of food (g) 0.5 0.5
Table 1
(Energy needed to increase the temperature og 1g of water by 1oC = 4.2 J g-1 oC-1)
(a) State the variables in this experiment.
(i) Manipulated variable : Type of food
(ii) Responding variable : Calorific value of the food

(b) Calculate the calorific value of:

(i) Food P :
=20g x 4.2J g-1 oC-1 x 30oC
0.5g x 1000
= 5.04 kJ g-1
(ii) Food Q :
=20g x 4.2J g-1 oC-1 x 50oC
0.5g x 1000
= 8.40 kJ g-1

(c) Predict the class of food for Q.

Fats

3. Malnutrition
 NUTRITION DISEASE SYMPTOMS
LACKING
Protein (a) kwashiorkor  (h) Swollen abdomen
 Failure to grow

Carbohydrate (b) marasmus  (i) Weak and dehydrated

 Underweight

Vitamin D (c) ricket  (j) Bent legs

Iodine (d) goitre  (k) Large swelling at the neck

Vitamin C (e) scurvy  (l) Bleeding gums

Iron (f) anaemia  (m) Loss of appetite

 Pale appearance

Vitamin B (g) Beri-beri  (n) Weakness of the legs

4. The figure below shows a mixture of starch and copper (II) oxide being heated.

(a) When the mixture is heated, a gas is released and it turns limewater chalky.

i. Based on this observation, what inference can you form?

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ii. From your inference, name an element that is present in starch. Give a reason for
your answer.
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(b)
 i. The liquid formed turns blue cobalt chloride paper pink. What is the liquid most
likely to be?
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ii. Based on your inference, name another element present in starch.

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5. Nutrition and Good Eating Habits

Food Class of food Organ in which the End product of

food is first digested digestion
Rice

Fish

(a) Complete the above table.

(b) Rice has calorific value of 16 kJ/g. what does this mean?
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(c) How do physical activities affect the energy requirement of a person?

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(d) What nutrients lacking in the diet for a long period of time may lead to the following
diseases?
(i) Scurvy : __________________________________________
(ii) Goitre : __________________________________________

(e) Why are ladies more likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa than men?
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State one common symptom of this disease.

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2.2 THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF PLANTS

1. Diagram below shows an experiment to study the nutrients needed by plants for healthy
growh.

(a) State one hypothesis for this experiment.

Plants need phosphorus for healthy growth

(b) State the variables in this experiment.

i. Manipulated variables : Presence or absence pf phosphorus in the culture solution
ii. Responding variables : Growth condition of maize seedling

(c) Write one observation for this experiment.

The maize seedling in set P grows healthily

(d) Predict the condition of the maize seedling if the boiling tube in set P is not wrapped in
black paper.
The maize seedling does not grow healthily

2. Tiara carried out an experiment to study the effect of phosphorus on the growth of the
flowering plant. She used aerophonic method by spraying different fertiliser’s solution on
flowering plants R and S twice a week. Diagram below show the result obtained after
three months.
(a) Based on your observation, state one difference between flowering plant R and flowering
plant S.
Flowering plants S has more roots than flowering plants R. / Flowering plants S has
bigger flowers but flowering R does not produce flowers.

(b) Identify the type of fertiliser solution used on flowering plants R and S.
i. Flowering plant R : Fertiliser solution without phosphorus
ii. Flowering plant S : Fertiliser solution with phosphorus

(c) Predict what will happen to flowering plant S if Tiara replaced the fertiliser solution with
tap water for two months.
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(d) What conclusion can be made from the experiment?

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3. The apparatus is set up as shown in the figure below to study photosynthesis.

(a) Suggest a hypothesis which can be proved by this experiment.

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(b) Why is the flower pot covered with a sheer of plastic?

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(c) What is the function of the sodium hydroxide solution?

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(d)
i. After three hours in the sunlight, the leaves are tested for starch. What result do
you expect?
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ii. Give a reason for the result you have stated.

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(e) What kind of control will you set up for this experiment?
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4. A student carried out an experiment to study the effects of nutrient deficiency on the
growth of young plants by using incomplete hydroponic solution.

Diagram below shows the result of the experiment after 2 weeks.

(a) Based on the diagram above, state one observation.

The size of the leaf of the plant grows in hydroponic solution without phosphate is
smaller than the leaf of the plant in control set.

(b) State an inference based on your observation.

Phosphate is essential for the plants to have healthy leaves.

(c) State a hypothesis for this experiment.

A complete hydroponic solution is essential for the young plants to grow healthily

(d) Except the size of the leaf, state another parameter which can be used as responding
variable for this experiment.
The colour of the leaf

(e) Predict what will happen, if the hydroponic solution without nitrogen is used instead
of complete hydroponic solution in controlled set.
Upright leaf will turn yellowish.
2.3 NITROGEN CYCLE AND ITS IMPORTANCE

1. Diagram below shows the nitrogen cycle.

(a) Name the types of bacteria L and M.

L : Nitrifying bacteria M : Denitrifying bacteria

(b) What is the role of bacteria K?

To fix nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into nitrate ions

(c) What is the process X?

Putrefaction

(d) Name one type of microorganism which is involved in process X.

Decomposers such as bacteria

(e) Give one importance of the nitrogen cycle.

It ensures a supply of nitrates to plants.

2. The figure below shows a simplified version of the nitrogen cycle.

(a) Name the process X and Y.
X : ________________________________________
Y : ________________________________________

(b) Explain how nitrates in the soil enter plants.

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(c) Name the types of bacteria involved in a stage 1 and 2.

Stage 1 : ___________________________________
Stage 2 : ___________________________________

(d) Besides bacteria, what other microorganisms are usually involved in stage 1?
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(e) How is nitrogen in nitrates returned to the atmosphere?

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(f) What other natural process adds nitrates to the soil? Explain how it is done.
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3. Diagram below show the nitrogen cycle.

(a) Describe the changes that take place in process P.

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(b) Bacteria Q are normally found in the roots of certain plants. In which plants are they
found and what role do they play in the nitrogen cycle?
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(c) What is the role of bacteria R?

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(d) Name the type of bacteria involves in process S.

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