OCR A Biology

17.1
Energy transfer

1
Bond energy
Bond Number Total (kJ / mol)
(kJ / mol)
C=O 12 803 9636
O—H 12 464 5568
C—C 5 347 1735
C—H 7 414 2898
C—O 7 358 2506
O=O 6 495 2970

2 Total energy required to break the bonds in six carbon dioxide molecules = 9636 kJ / mol (1); total
energy required to break the bonds in six water molecules = 5568 kJ / mol (1); Total energy used =
15 204 kJ / mol (1); total energy released when all the bonds in one glucose molecule are formed =
9459 kJ / mol (1); total energy released when the bonds in six oxygen molecules are formed = 2970
kJ / mol (1); total energy released = 12 429 kJ / mol; energy required to make up difference = 2775
kJ / mol (1). 3 2775 kJ / mol
4 1163/2775 × 100 = 42%

Summary questions
1 Energy cannot be created (or destroyed) energy is transferred (1); ATP is produced (1).
2 ATP is not very stable (1); easy to remove phosphate group (1); organic molecules are (more)
stable (1); idea that organic molecules are more energy dense (1).
3 In photosynthesis light energy is converted into chemical energy (1); inorganic molecules are
converted into organic molecules (1); water and carbon dioxide are converted to glucose (and
oxygen) (1); respiration uses oxygen produced in photosynthesis (1); organic molecules are broken
down into inorganic molecules (1); energy released is used to synthesise ATP (1); carbon dioxide
produced is used in respiration (1) (max 5).

17.2
Summary questions
1 Universal energy currency (1); energy transfer is, quick/immediate (1); energy is in, small/usable,
quantities (1); (energy transfer) is quick, (energy transfer) in quantities that can be used; ATP can be
resynthesised (1) (max 3).
2 Impermeable to, ions/protons (1); idea that there can be different concentrations of protons on each
side of a membrane (1); contains, embedded / integral, proteins (1); e.g., ATP synthase (1); enzyme
responsible for synthesis of ATP (1).
3 Facilitated diffusion (1); ATP synthase provides hydrophilic channel for diffusion of protons (1);
catalyses the synthesis of ATP (1); lowers activation energy (1).
4 Reversible reaction (1); idea that the products formed from reaction in one direction are the
substrates of reaction in reverse direction (1); active site is complementary to both substrates and
products (1); so substrates and products can bind to same active site (1); direction of reaction
depends on relative concentrations (of substrates/products) on either side of reaction (1).

© Oxford University Press 2016 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
 OCR A Biology

17.3

Plants use sunscreen as well

1 a Anthocyanins are red pigment (1); produced when light intensity and sugar concentration is high
(1); apples have high sugar concentration; high intensity light affects one side more than the other.
b Produced by enzymes (1); enzyme activity is temperature dependent (1).
2 Enzymes involved in metabolic pathway (1); 3D shape of enzyme is different at different
temperatures (1); shape of active site changes (1); enzymes activated/inactivated.

Investigating photosynthetic pigments

1 Small strip of TLC plate (1); grind leaves with propanone/organic solvent (1); apply drop of extract to
TLC strip near to one end (1); repeat until concentrated spot produced (1); place TLC strip in test tube
(1); put solvent into test tube so level of solvent below spot (1); ensure strip not touching sides of tube
(1); leave solvent to run (up strip) (1); remove TLC strip before solvent reaches top of strip.
2 Carotenoids 0.1 (1); Chlorophyll b 0.38 (1); Chlorophyll a 0.54 (1); Pheophytin 0.64 (1); Carotene
0.96 (1)

Photorespiration
1 Less carbon dioxide fixed (1); less, organic molecules / named examples, synthesised (1); reduced
yield (1).
2 Photosynthesis produces oxygen (1); idea that little / no, oxygen present in atmosphere when plants
began to evolve (1).

Summary questions
1 Synthesis of ATP/addition of phosphate group to ADP (1); using energy from light (1)
2 Pigments absorb light (1); of specific wavelength/colour (1); absorbed light energy provides energy
for photosynthesis (1), more light absorbed leads to higher rate of photosynthesis (1).
3 Green light is reflected/not absorbed (1); no energy for light-dependent stage (1); no ATP and
reduced NADP for light-independent stage (1).
4 Inorganic carbon (1); added to organic molecule (1)
5 a Calvin cycle happens during the light as well (1)
b Calvin cycle requires ATP (1); and reduced NADP (1); supplied from light-dependent stage (1)
6 ATP produced and reduced NADP not produced (1); electrons not required from PSII/photolysis (1);
less ATP used in Calvin cycle (1); more ATP available for other metabolic processes (1).
7 10 molecules of TP every six turns of cycle (1); using ATP (1); 6 molecules of RuBP formed (1);
reference to (3/5) carbon shuffle (1); reference to individual steps/named (1); light (1); enzymes (1);
coenzymes/named (1); ATP (1); carbon dioxide does not combine directly with water (1).

17.4
Investigating the factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis
1 After point A change in dissolved oxygen % (y axis) divided by change in time min (x axis) (1);
based on the following values (sensible answer but others accepted) 70/80 = 0.88 % / min (1).
2 Rate of photosynthesis increased (1); higher than rate of respiration (1)
3 Sodium hydrogen carbonate solutions (1); different carbon dioxide concentrations (1); place flask in
water baths at different temperatures (1); place lamp at different distances to vary light intensity.
4 Number of bubbles easier to count (1); ORA volume / concentration, of oxygen (obtained using a
data logger) more precise than number of bubbles (1); (this) increases validity.

© Oxford University Press 2016 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
 OCR A Biology

Artificial photosynthesis, a win-win solution

Pigment/cell, to absorb light energy (1); catalyst to split water (1); enzyme to reduce carbon dioxide
(1); any other sensible suggestion

Different types of photosynthesis

1 Cactus swells (1); storing water in wet periods (1); leaves are spines (1); small surface area (1);
spines collect water (from atmosphere) (1); extensive and shallow root system (1); open stomata at
night (1); cactus / CAM plants, use PEP carboxylase to fix carbon dioxide (1); carbon dioxide stored
until daytime (1); limited quantity stored (1); limited photosynthesis so limited growth (1).
2 Carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis (1); carbon dioxide enters plant through stomata (1); no,
organic molecules / named examples, so no respiratory substrate (1); essential reactions / named
examples, cannot take place (1).

Summary questions
1 Factor which limits rate of a process (1); e.g., light (1) in photosynthesis (1).
2 Oxygen is used in respiration (1); so not all oxygen produced is released (1).
3 Limiting factors light, temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration (1); light is required for light-
dependent stage (1); glasshouses are transparent / built from glass (1); carbon dioxide is required for
light-independent stage (1) ventilation of glasshouse so concentration of carbon dioxide does not fall
(1); temperature affects reactions in light-independent stage (and light-dependent stage) (1); use of
heater (1); fossil fuel burners also release carbon dioxide (1); idea that each factor is maintained at a
level that maximises the rate of photosynthesis but minimises waste (1).

© Oxford University Press 2016 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.