 Section 1: Living organisms: variety and common features

Biological molecules

Name ______________________________________________ Date ____________

1 Match the start of each sentence in column one with the most suitable ending from
column two. [5]
Start of sentence Sentence ending
Maltose and sucrose are … … an insoluble polysaccharide found in animals
Cellulose is … … simple sugars composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen only
Glycogen is … … an insoluble storage polysaccharide in plants
Starch is … ... disaccharide sugars
Monosaccharides are … … a polysaccharide found in cell walls

2 Proteins are an essential part of a balanced diet.

a) What are the building blocks of proteins called? [1]

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b) Name the following protein types:

i the protein found in hair and nails [1]

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ii a protein found in ligaments [1]

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iii a protein that carries oxygen. [1]

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c) What is the name of the reagent that is used to test for the presence of proteins in
solution? [1]

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Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Biology © Hodder & Stoughton 2018 1

 Section 1: Living organisms: variety and common features
Biological molecules

d) Describe how the test for protein would be carried out. [2]

____________________________________________________________________

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e) What would be observed if protein was present in the solution? [1]

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3 The diagram below shows an experimental procedure used to test for glucose.

a) A few drops of a reagent are added to the sample solution. What is the name of this
reagent? [1]

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 Section 1: Living organisms: variety and common features
Biological molecules
b) Describe what is happening in part B of the diagram. [2]

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c) Tubes 1, 2 and 3 show the results obtained when three different solutions were
tested. Explain the results shown for each tube. [3]

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d) If you wanted to show that starch was present in a solution, what reagent would be
used and what colour change would be observed? [2]

____________________________________________________________________

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e) Describe the main differences between the structures of starch and glucose. [2]

____________________________________________________________________

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 Section 1: Living organisms: variety and common features
Biological molecules
4 The diagram below shows the reaction between an enzyme and a substrate.

a) Name parts X and Y. [2]

X ____________________________________________________________________

Y ____________________________________________________________________

b) Which is the correct substrate for the enzyme? Explain your answer. [2]

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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 Section 1: Living organisms: variety and common features
Biological molecules

c) Using information in the diagram, explain what is meant by the lock and key
theory. [3]

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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d) Explain what is meant by the term denaturing. [1]

____________________________________________________________________

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e) Give two ways in which an enzyme can be denatured. [2]

____________________________________________________________________

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5 Complete the table by filling in the blank boxes. [8]

Description of molecule Name of molecule Building block of molecule
Found in plant cell walls

Haemoglobin
Found in cell membranes; doesn’t mix with
water
A storage carbohydrate in plants

Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Biology © Hodder & Stoughton 2018 5