Making Sense of IGCSE Biology Gas Exchange

MAKING SENSE OF IGCSE BIOLOGY (4BI1)
Structure and Functions in Living Things

Topic 2g
Gas Exchange
Flowering Plants
PAPER 2
2g – Gas exchange – Flowering plants
PAPER 2
Objectives
2.40B Understand the role of diffusion in gas exchange.
2.41B Understand gas exchange (of carbon dioxide and oxygen) in relation to
respiration and photosynthesis.
2.42B Understand how the structure of the leaf is adapted for gas exchange
2.43B Describe the role of stomata in gas exchange.
2.44B Understand how respiration continues during the day and night, but
that the net exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen depends on the
intensity of light.
2.45B Practical: investigate the effect of light on net gas exchange from a
leaf, using hydrogen-carbonate indicator.
2
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
Gas exchange in plants
• Gaseous exchange in plants occurs through the

stomata in the leaves.
• The gases move by diffusion (from an area of high
concentration to low concentration).
During photosynthesis, During respiration, O2

carbon dioxide enters oxygen enters the leaf
the leaf and oxygen and carbon dioxide CO2
exits the leaf. exits the leaf. CO2
O2
O2 3
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
O2 CO2
O2
CO2 4
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
• Respiration occurs in plants 24 hours a day.

• However photosynthesis only occurs when
sunlight is available.
• Therefore the net exchange of gasses depends
on how much light is available.
5
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
Photosynthesis
Rate of reaction
Respiration
0 6 12 18 24
Time from midnight (Hours) 6
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
Leaf adaptations for gas exchange
• Broad so large surface area for diffusion

• Thin so short diffusion distance
• Air spaces allow gases to easily move to all cells
• Lots of stomata
• Plant can control the opening and closing of stomata
using the guard cells
7
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
PRACTICAL
Investigating the effect of light on net gas exchange
• As already mentioned there is an indicator which is

used to measure the amount of carbon dioxide.
• It’s called Hydrogen-carbonate indicator.
This is an aquatic
The indictorunder
It isplant
placed has had
a carbon
light and as it uses
placed in
dioxide
up the bubbled through
available carbon it
dioxide the
hydrogen-carbonate
whichindicator
has turned it yellow
indicator turns to purple
8
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
PRACTICAL
Decrease Increase
Low CO2 is purple Normal CO2 is orange High CO2 is yellow
9
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
PRACTICAL
• You can use this apparatus to show how light affects gas
exchange.
1. Put three leaves all of the same size into

tubes with the same volume of hydrogen-
carbonate indicator.
2. Have a fourth tube with the indicator in

but no leaf as a control experiment.
10
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
PRACTICAL
3. Wrap one tube in aluminium foil
4. Wrap another in muslin
5. Now shine a bright light onto the

tubes and leave them for 45 minutes.
6. Can you predict the results?
11
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
PRACTICAL
The tube which was covered with foil has had

no light and therefore the leaf has not been
photosynthesising but only respiring.
Therefore producing CO2.
The tube with no cover has been

photosynthesising a lot and therefore using up
the CO2 in the tube.
The tube with muslin has had some light so

Control Foil No coverMuslin overall no change in CO2.
The control tube has had no leaf in it and

therefore no change in CO2. 12
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
CONCEPT CHECK – True or false
1. Plants do both respiration and photosynthesis

2. Plants respire only during daylight hours
3. Gases move in and out the leaf via the xylem
4. Leaves are thin to minimize diffusion distance
5. CO2 is produced during photosynthesis
6. Photosynthesis happens 24 hours a day
7. Hydrogen-carbonate indicator turns yellow when CO2 levels increase
8. Hydrogen-carbonate indicator is purple with atmospheric CO2 levels
9. Plants can open and close their stomata
10. Most stomata are on the bottom of the leaf 13
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
1. Plants do both respiration and photosynthesis

2. Plants respire only during daylight hours
3. Gases move in and out the leaf via the xylem
4. Leaves are thin to minimize diffusion distance
5. CO2 is produced during photosynthesis
6. Photosynthesis happens 24 hours a day
7. Hydrogen-carbonate indicator turns yellow when CO2 levels increase
8. Hydrogen-carbonate indicator is purple with atmospheric CO2 levels
9. Plants can open and close their stomata
10. Most stomata are on the bottom of the leaf 14
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
CONCEPT CHECK – Exam style question
Q: Describe the graph showing the net gas exchange in a plant
over 24 hours (3 marks)
10 Photosynthesis
Rate of reaction (AU)
5 Respiration
0 6 12 18 24
Time from midnight (Hours)
15
PAPER 2
PAPER 2
Q: Describe the graph showing the net gas exchange in a plant
over 24 hours (3 marks)
The rate of respiration stays approximately

10 Photosynthesis the same/constant for 24 hour;
Rate of reaction (AU)
This is at about 2AU;

Photosynthesis increases at 5 hours;
It plateaus between 10-15 Hours;
This is at 9AU;
5 Respiration It then decreases back to 0AU at 22 hours;
stio n n ot
r ib e qu e
i s a d e s c
y w h y just
T hi s sa
NOTE! So no need to the lines.
! f
explain the pattern o
0 6 12 18 24
Time from midnight (Hours) e
de sc r i b
16
MAKING SENSE OF IGCSE BIOLOGY (4BI1)
Structure and Functions in Living Things

Topic 2g
Gas Exchange
Humans
2g – Gas exchange - Humans
Objectives
2.46 Describe the structure of the thorax, including the ribs, intercostal
muscles, diaphragm, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and pleural
membranes.
2.47 Understand the role of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm in
ventilation.
2.48 Explain how alveoli are adapted for gas exchange by diffusion between air
in the lungs and blood in capillaries.
2.49 Understand the biological consequences of smoking in relation to the
lungs and the circulatory system, including coronary heart disease.
2.50 Practical: investigate breathing in humans, including the release of carbon
dioxide and the effect of exercise.
18
The gaseous exchange system
The lungs are highly

adapted organs that
allow mammals to
exchange gases between
the environment and
their blood.
19
Structure of the thorax
Lungs Trachea
Pleural membranes
Bronchi
Ribs
Bronchiole
Intercostal muscles
Alveoli
Diaphragm
20
Structure of the thorax
Structure Function
Trachea Tube with incomplete rings of cartilage carries air to lungs; lined with cells
making mucus, and cells with cilia to move the mucus away.
Bronchi Carries air to lungs

Bronchioles Carry air to alveoli
Alveoli Tiny air sacs adapted for gas exchange
Diaphragm Sheet of muscle which is domed; it helps make breathing movements and
separates the thorax from the abdomen
Ribs Bones that protect and ventilate the lungs
Intercostal muscles Move ribs for ventilation (breathing)
Pleural membranes Thin moist membranes forming an airtight seal around the lungs and
separating inside of thorax from lungs
21
Ventilation
• Ventilation (breathing) means moving air in

and out of the lungs.
• This requires a difference in air pressure and
relies on the thorax being an airtight cavity.
• Movements of the intercostal muscles and
diaphragm change the volume inside the
cavity and therefore the air pressure.
• This causes the air to move in or out.
22
Ventilation Side view of thorax
∂ Intercostal muscles
∂
∂
∂ Ribs
Spine ∂
∂
Lungs
Diaphragm
BACK FRONT 23
Ventilation – Inhalation
Therefore air moves into lungs 5

1 Intercostal muscles contract
∂
∂
∂
∂ 2 Ribs move up and out
∂
∂
Volume of thorax 4
increases which
reduces the pressure.
3 Diaphragm contracts
and flattens
BACK FRONT 24
Ventilation - Exhalation
Therefore air forced 5 1 Intercostal muscles relax

out of lungs. ∂
∂
∂ 2
∂ Ribs move down and in
∂
Volume of thorax ∂
4
decreases which
3 Diaphragm relaxes and
increases the
pressure. returns to dome shape.
BACK FRONT 25
Ventilation
26
Alveoli
• The lungs contain 700,000,000

tiny air sacs called alveoli.
• They are surrounded by a
network of blood capillaries.
• Gases diffuse into and out of the
blood based on the
concentration gradients.
• The oxygenated blood then
travels back to the heart to be
pumped around the body.
By UNSHAW - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48842928 27
lood
Alveoli b
ated Oxygenated blo
ygen od
ox
• Each alveoli is surrounded by De
blood capillaries.
• These carry deoxygenated
ellc
blood. ut
od
nd o
blo
air in a
Red
• The carbon dioxide that is
carried by the blood diffuses
into the alveoli to be exhaled.
Ca
rb
Oxyge
on
• The oxygen diffuses into the
dio
xid
n
e
blood from the alveoli and
Capillary
binds to the red blood cells.
28
Alveoli adaptations
• The alveoli are very well adapted for efficient gas

exchange:
1. They have a large surface area for diffusion.
2. They are moist to help dissolve gases and increase diffusion
rate.
3. A rich blood supply to maintain a steep diffusion gradient
between the alveoli and the blood.
4. Due to both the alveoli and the capillary only having walls one
cell thick there is a short diffusion distance between the air and
the blood which increases diffusion rate.
5. The walls are permeable.
29
PRACTICAL
Investigating breathing
Investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.
• First you must determine your resting breathing rate.

• Count how many times you inhale in a minute.
• Do this three times and take an average.
• This will make your data more reliable.
30
PRACTICAL
• Then you must calculate your breathing rate

carrying out exercise.
• Jog on the spot for one minute and count
the breaths you inhale in that time.
• Then take a minute to rest.
• Once again repeat the experiment two more
times and take the average of all three
results.
• Then do it all again with two other people.
31
PRACTICAL
• You should find that your breathing rate

increases with exercise, but can you explain
why?
This is to provide your muscles with more oxygen so they

can keep respiring aerobically to provide you with energy.
It is also to get rid of the extra carbon dioxide that is being

produced by aerobic respiration.
32
PRACTICAL
• What would you control to make this experiment valid?
• Same time spent exercising

• Same type of exercise
• Same age/sex of person
• Same temperature of room
• Same food and drink before
33
PRACTICAL
Investigate the release of carbon dioxide from breathing

• You can use this simple apparatus to investigate the
release of carbon dioxide when breathing.
• In each flask is an indicator that detects carbon dioxide Inhaled air
levels. Either lime water or hydrogen-carbonate indicator. Exhaled air
Flask A check the carbon dioxide content of the

air before it enters the lungs. Therefore would
expect no change to the indicator.
Flask B check the carbon dioxide content of the

air leaving the lungs. Therefore would expect
lime water to go cloudy or hydrogen carbonate
to go yellow A B
34
Effects of smoking
35
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system
• Smoking contributes to the following lung

conditions:
– Lung Cancer
– Chronic Bronchitis
– Emphysema
36
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Lung cancer
• Tobacco smoke and tar

contain chemicals which
cause cells to mutate
into cancerous tumours.
• These chemicals are
called carcinogens.
37
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Lung cancer
Large tumour
This is a diseased lung showing a large tumour and a few smaller tumours. It is also
black from the tar in cigarettes.
38
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Chronic bronchitis
• In healthy lungs the cells lining the bronchi and bronchioles

have tiny little hairs on them called cilia.
• There are also cells called goblet cells which secrete mucus.
• The mucus traps bacteria and dust to stop it entering the lungs.
• The cilia waft the mucus up to the throat where it can be
swallowed and destroyed in the stomach acid.
Ciliated epithelial cell Cilia Goblet cell Mucus

39
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Chronic bronchitis
• The tar in cigarettes damages and paralyses the

cilia.
• Therefore bacteria build up and you get more
chest infections.
• The tar also irritates the lining encouraging more
mucus to be produced which cant then be
cleared.
• Therefore the smoker develops a heavy cough
called a smoker’s cough and also chronic
bronchitis.
40
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Emphysema
• Smoke damages the alveoli walls,

they burst and fuse together.
• This greatly reduces the surface
area for gaseous exchange.
• The sufferer is unable to carry
out basic tasks like walking due
to lack of oxygen.
• There is no cure. By Yale Rosen from USA - Emphysema, centrilobularUploaded by CFCF, CC
BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31128073
41
Effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange system – Emphysema
A section from a lung with emphysema showing large black cavities where many alveoli
have burst. These are also full of tar.
42
Effects of smoking on the circulatory system
• Smoking also damages your circulatory system

and greatly increase your risk of developing
coronary heart disease.
43
• Coronary heart disease (CHD)

is when you get fatty deposits
in the wall of the coronary
arteries which normally supply
your heart with oxygen.
• Eventually these can get
blocked entirely by a clot and
oxygen will not get to some of
the heart.
• This is called a heart attack.
44
• The carbon monoxide in smoke binds to haemoglobin in the
blood instead of oxygen.
• Therefore the heart has to work harder, beat faster and with a
higher pressure.
• This damages the artery wall making clots more likely to
happen.
• Also nicotine (the addictive drug in tobacco) makes blood cells
more sticky and narrows blood vessels (vasoconstriction).
• All of these things increase the effects of CHD and make a
heart attack more likely.
45
1. An increase in pressure inside the thorax causes inhalation

2. Gas exchange occurs in the bronchi
3. The intercostal muscles contract for inhalation
4. The diaphragm contracts for exhalation
5. Exercise increases breathing rate
6. Oxygen is absorbed into the blood by active transport
7. Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood from the alveoli
8. Lung cancer is caused by nicotine
9. Emphysema is when your alveoli burst and fuse
10.Smoking increases your heart rate
46
1. An increase in pressure inside the thorax causes inhalation

2. Gas exchange occurs in the bronchi
3. The intercostal muscles contract for inhalation
4. The diaphragm contracts for exhalation
5. Exercise increases breathing rate
6. Oxygen is absorbed into the blood by active transport
7. Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood from the alveoli
8. Lung cancer is caused by nicotine
9. Emphysema is when your alveoli burst and fuse
10.Smoking increases your heart rate
47
Q: Explain what happens in the lungs for the process of

inhalation to occur (4 Marks)
48
Q: Explain what happens in the lungs for the process of

inhalation to occur (4 Marks)
Intercostal muscles contract;

Ribs move up and out;
Diaphragm contracts/flattens;
Volume inside thorax increases;
Pressure decreases;
Air drawn in;
49

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MAKING SENSE OF IGCSE BIOLOGY (4BI1)

Structure and Functions in Living Things

• Gaseous exchange in plants occurs through the

During photosynthesis, During respiration, O2

• Respiration occurs in plants 24 hours a day.

• Broad so large surface area for diffusion

• As already mentioned there is an indicator which is

Low CO2 is purple Normal CO2 is orange High CO2 is yellow

1. Put three leaves all of the same size into

2. Have a fourth tube with the indicator in

3. Wrap one tube in aluminium foil

4. Wrap another in muslin

5. Now shine a bright light onto the

6. Can you predict the results?

The tube which was covered with foil has had

The tube with no cover has been

The tube with muslin has had some light so

The control tube has had no leaf in it and

1. Plants do both respiration and photosynthesis

1. Plants do both respiration and photosynthesis

The rate of respiration stays approximately

This is at about 2AU;

Structure and Functions in Living Things

The lungs are highly

Bronchi Carries air to lungs

• Ventilation (breathing) means moving air in

Therefore air moves into lungs 5

Therefore air forced 5 1 Intercostal muscles relax

• The lungs contain 700,000,000

• The alveoli are very well adapted for efficient gas

Investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.

• First you must determine your resting breathing rate.

Investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.

• Then you must calculate your breathing rate

Investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.

• You should find that your breathing rate

This is to provide your muscles with more oxygen so they

It is also to get rid of the extra carbon dioxide that is being

Investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.

• What would you control to make this experiment valid?

• Same time spent exercising

Investigate the release of carbon dioxide from breathing

Flask A check the carbon dioxide content of the

Flask B check the carbon dioxide content of the

• Smoking contributes to the following lung

• Tobacco smoke and tar

• In healthy lungs the cells lining the bronchi and bronchioles

Ciliated epithelial cell Cilia Goblet cell Mucus

• The tar in cigarettes damages and paralyses the

• Smoke damages the alveoli walls,

• Smoking also damages your circulatory system

• Coronary heart disease (CHD)

1. An increase in pressure inside the thorax causes inhalation

1. An increase in pressure inside the thorax causes inhalation

Q: Explain what happens in the lungs for the process of

Q: Explain what happens in the lungs for the process of

Intercostal muscles contract;

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