1.

4 membrane transport [53 marks]

1. [1 mark]
What is/are required for facilitated diffusion?
I. A concentration gradient
II. ATP
III. A channel protein
A. I only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

Markscheme
B
2. [1 mark]
In an experiment on osmosis, red blood cells were immersed in a salt solution for two
hours. The micrographs show the appearance of these cells before and after immersion in
the salt solution.

[Source: Ed Uthman, Acanthocytes, from peripheral blood [image online] Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthocyte#/media/File:Acanthocytes,_Peripheral_Blood_
(3884092551).jpg
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ Source adapted.]
 
What explains the observed changes?
A. The salt solution was hypertonic and entered the red blood cells.
B. The salt solution was hypotonic and disrupted the membranes of the red blood cells.
C. The salt solution was hypertonic and water moved into it from the red blood cells.
D. The salt solution was hypotonic and mineral salts were lost from the red blood cells.

Markscheme
C
3. [1 mark]
Which feature(s) allow(s) transport of glucose in blood plasma?
I. It is hydrophobic.
II. It is polar.
III. Its solubility is low at 37 °C.
A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. II and III only

Markscheme
B
4. [1 mark]
Red blood cells from a small mammal were immersed in NaCl (sodium chloride) solutions
of different concentrations for 2 hours. The graph shows the percentage of hemolysed
(ruptured) red blood cells at each concentration.
[Source: Zaidan, T. , de Matos, W. , Machado, É . , Junqueira, T. , Vicentini, S. , Presta, G. and
Santos-Filho, S. (2010)
Cellular effects of an aqueous solution of Losartan® on the survival of Escherichia coli
AB1157 in the presence
and absence of SnCl2, and on the physiological property (osmotic fragility) of the
erytrocyte. Advances
in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 1, 300–304. doi: 10.4236/abb.2010.14039. Available at
https://www.scirp.org/pdf/ABB20100400005_18844979.pdf Licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).]
 
What can be deduced from the graph?
A. At Y, the net movement of Na ions between red blood cells and the NaCl solutions is zero.
B. At X, Na and Cl ions disrupt the structure of cell membranes.
C. At Y, the hypertonic NaCl solutions diffuse into the red blood cells.
D. At X, water has moved by osmosis into the red blood cells.

Markscheme
D
5. [1 mark]
How is facilitated diffusion in axons similar to active transport?
A. They both require the energy of ATP.
B. They both move substances against a concentration gradient.
C. They both use sodium–potassium pumps.
D. They are both carried out by proteins embedded in the axon membrane.

Markscheme
D
6. [4 marks]
Substances can move into and out of cells through the cell membrane.
Describe transport across cell membranes by osmosis.

Markscheme
a. form of diffusion;
b. osmosis is the movement of water molecules;
c. (movement) across a selectively/semi/partially permeable membrane/cell membrane;
d. from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration (until
equilibrium is reached)
OR
movement of water molecules from a high concentration of water to a low concentration of
water molecules;
e. it is a passive transport mechanism/does not use ATP;
f. channel proteins/aquaporins are used;
7. [1 mark]
The image shows human red blood cells.
[Source: someoneice/123rf.com.]
 
Outline what will happen to human red blood cells if transferred to distilled water.

Markscheme
cells absorb water by osmosis and swell/increase in volume
OR
cells burst/lyse;
8. [1 mark]
A human organ is being prepared for transplant. In what type of solution must it be bathed?
A. A hypertonic solution
B. A hypotonic solution
C. Pure water containing no solutes
D. A solution with the same osmolarity as the organ tissue

Markscheme
D
9. [1 mark]
Which graph best represents the relationship between the concentration of chloride ions in
the external environment of a cell and the rate at which the chloride ions move by
facilitated diffusion into the cytoplasm of the cell?
Markscheme
C
10. [1 mark]
The images show samples of red blood cells that were placed in different concentrations of
salt solutions.

Which process explains the observations shown in the images?

A. Active transport
B. Exocytosis
C. Facilitated diffusion
D. Osmosis
Markscheme
D
11. [1 mark]
Which solution has the highest salt concentration?
A. The original solution
B. Solution 1
C. Solution 2
D. Solution 3

Markscheme
B
12. [1 mark]
The diagram shows a section through a membrane. What are the modes of transport in the
diagram?
[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2020.]

Markscheme
C
13. [1 mark]
By which process do potassium ions move through potassium channels in axons?
A. Active transport
B. Exocytosis
C. Facilitated diffusion
D. Simple diffusion

Markscheme
C
14a. [2 marks]
An experiment was carried out on osmosis in carrot (Daucus carota) root tissue and potato
(Solanum tuberosum) tuber tissue. Similar sized pieces of tissue were cut and soaked in
different sucrose solutions for 24 hours. The results are shown in the graph below.
Using the graph, estimate isotonic sucrose solutions for potato tissue and carrot tissue.
Potato:
Carrot:

Markscheme
potato: 0.26 mol dm–3 ✔ Allow a range of 0.22–0.32
carrot: 0.50 mol dm–3 ✔ Allow a range of 0.45–0.55 (Allow 1 max if no units or either unit is
omitted)
14b. [1 mark]
Suggest a reason for the difference in the isotonic points for the potato and the carrot
tissues.

Markscheme
different dissolved solutes/sugars/sucrose/salts/molarities ✔
OR
may have been grown in different soils giving their tissues different contents ✔
OR
may have been stored under different conditions ✔
OR
may be more dehydrated / different water content ✔
OR
different types of tissue / different age ✔
Do not accept starch.
14c. [2 marks]
From the evidence provided by the graph, evaluate the reliability of these data.

Markscheme
a. the data show clear trends
OR
a trend line could be drawn through these data
OR
there are no outliers ✔
b. the error bars/standard deviations shown
OR
the error bars/standard deviations vary with concentration ✔
c. sample size is unknown ✔
14d. [2 marks]
Explain one reason for calculating the percentage change in mass.

Markscheme
a. the change in mass indicates whether the tissue has gained/lost water ✔
b. the pieces of tissue will not be the same mass «at the beginning of the experiment» ✔
c. to compare the relative changes in mass ✔
15a. [1 mark]
An experiment was carried out to study osmosis in plant cells. Small cylinders of zucchini
(Cucurbita pepo) were cut and placed in different sucrose solutions at 25 °C. The figure
shows the percentage changes in mass after 24 hours.
Estimate the solute concentration of the zucchini cells.

Markscheme
0.36 mol dm-3/M ✔
Units required
Allow a range of 0.35–0.37 mol dm-3/M.
15b. [1 mark]
If a zucchini is allowed to dry in the open air, predict how the osmolarity of the zucchini
cells would change.

Markscheme
osmolarity will increase «because the cells become dehydrated»
OR
the cells become hypertonic ✔
Accept water potential of the tissue decreases.
Do not accept "change" instead of "increase".
15c. [2 marks]
Explain one reason for calculating the percentage changes in mass.
Markscheme
a. the change in mass indicates whether the tissue has gained/lost water ✔
b. the pieces of tissue will not all be the same mass «at the beginning of the experiment» ✔
c. to compare the relative changes in mass ✔
15d. [1 mark]
Predict what would happen to a red blood cell placed in distilled water.

Markscheme
a. water would move into the red blood cells ✔
b. it would lyse
OR
swell
OR
burst ✔
16. [1 mark]
Which process(es) occur(s) by osmosis?
I. Uptake of water by cells in the wall of the intestine
II. Loss of water from a plant cell in a hypertonic environment
III. Evaporation of water from sweat on the skin surface
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
 

Markscheme
B
17. [1 mark]
The table shows concentrations of potassium ions and sodium ions inside and outside
human cells.
[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]
 
What explains these concentrations?
A. Potassium ions diffuse in and sodium ions diffuse out.
B. Sodium ions diffuse in and potassium ions diffuse out.
C. Active transport pumps sodium ions in and potassium ions out.
D. Active transport pumps sodium ions out and potassium ions in.

Markscheme
D
18. [4 marks]
Outline four types of membrane transport, including their use of energy.

Markscheme
a. simple diffusion is passive movement of molecules/ions along a concentration gradient
✔
b. facilitated diffusion is passive movement of molecules/ions along a concentration
gradient through a protein channel «without use of energy» ✔
c. osmosis is the passage of water through a membrane from lower solute concentration to
higher ✔ OWTTE
d. active transport is movement of molecules/ions against the concentration
gradient«through membrane pumps» with the use of ATP/energy ✔ Active transport
requires mention of the use of energy.
e. endocytosis is the infolding of membrane/formation of vesicles to bring molecules into
cell with use of energy
OR
exocytosis is the infolding of membrane/formation of vesicles to release molecules from
cell with use of energy ✔
f. chemiosmosis occurs when protons diffuse through ATP synthase «in membrane» to
produce ATP ✔
The description of each type of transport should include the name and brief description.
mpa, mpb and mpc require reference to concentration.
 
19. [4 marks]
Outline four types of membrane transport, including their use of energy.

Markscheme
a. simple diffusion is passive movement of molecules/ions along a concentration gradient
✔
b. facilitated diffusion is passive movement of molecules/ions along a concentration
gradient through a protein channel «without use of energy» ✔
c. osmosis is the passage of water through a membrane from lower solute concentration to
higher ✔ OWTTE
d. active transport is movement of molecules/ions against the concentration gradient
«through membrane pumps» with the use of ATP/energy ✔
e. endocytosis is the infolding of membrane/formation of vesicles to bring molecules into
cell with use of energy
OR
exocytosis is the infolding of membrane/formation of vesicles to release molecules from
cell with use of energy ✔
f. chemiosmosis occurs when protons diffuse through ATP synthase «in membrane» to
produce ATP ✔
mpa, mpb and mpc require reference to concentration.  
Active transport requires mention of the use of energy.
20. [3 marks]
Calcium is absorbed from food in the human gut by both active and passive processes.
Outline active transport, including the benefits of the process.

Markscheme
a. moved against a concentration gradient/lower to higher concentration ✔
b. energy/ATP required/used ✔
c. pump/carrier «protein» «carries out active transport» ✔
d. absorption «by active transport» into a cell is possible even if exterior concentrations are
«very» low
OR
allows all/nearly all of/more of the substance/calcium to be absorbed «whereas diffusion
can only even out concentrations»
OR
unidirectional/allows the direction of movement to be controlled
OR
allows a concentration gradient to be built up/potential energy to be stored/membrane
potential to be generated/maintained
OR
allows a specific concentration to be maintained «in a cell» ✔
21. [1 mark]
Neural pathways in living brains can now be mapped by tracking the movement of water
molecules inside axons. What keeps water molecules inside axons?
A. Plasma membrane
B. Hydrogen bonding
C. Pump proteins
D. Synapse

Markscheme
A
22. [1 mark]
Which type of transportation happens in the sodium–potassium pump?
A. Facilitated diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Simple diffusion
D. Active transport

Markscheme
D
23a. [2 marks]
Data was collected on rabbit red blood cells that were exposed to sodium chloride (NaCl)
and scorpion venom. Under some osmotic conditions red blood cells swell and burst,
releasing hemoglobin (hemolysis). The graph shows the response of red blood cells to
different concentrations of sodium chloride, with and without scorpion venom.

[Source: Adapted from Mirakabadi A Z, et al., (2006), J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis.,
12 (1), pages 67–77 (London: BioMed Central)]
Outline the effect of the venom on the hemolysis of red blood cells.

Markscheme
a. in NaCl concentrations between 0.3 to 0.5 % venom increases the percentage of
hemolysis/more cells lyse 
b. venom has no effect below 0.3% and above 0.55% NaCl
OR
Venom has no effect at very low or very high NaCl concentrations
23b. [3 marks]
Describe how the variables would be controlled in an experiment to estimate the
osmolarity of plant tissue.

Markscheme
a. weigh all pieces to ensure same amount of plant material/allow comparisons 
b. control surface area by having same shape/ size 
c. carry out experiment at same temperature e.g. using a water bath or constant room
temperature 
d. all samples in solution for same length of time 
e. all samples from same plant (to minimize variability) 
f. use a range of solutions of the same solute 
g. constant method of removing excess fluid before weigh tissue samples
Do not accept just a list of controlled variables.
24. [1 mark]
The salt concentration inside an animal cell is 1.8 %. The salt concentration in the
surrounding medium becomes 5 %. What will be the likely response?
A. The cell will gain water from the medium.
B. The cell will lose salt to the medium.
C. The cell will remain unchanged.
D. The cell will shrink from loss of water.

Markscheme
D
25. [1 mark]
Dialysis membrane was set up to model digestion and absorption in the small intestine.

What is a limitation of this model?

A. There can be no active transport.
B. Maltose will pass through the membrane.
C. Lipase should be present with protein.
D. The membrane is not permeable to starch.

Markscheme
A
26a. [1 mark]
Define osmolarity. 

Markscheme
«measurement of» solute concentration of a solution OWTTE
26b. [1 mark]
This image shows a normal red blood cell.

These images show two red blood cells that have been placed in solutions with different
concentrations of solutes.
Deduce, with a reason, which red blood cell has been placed in a hypertonic solution.

Markscheme
cell 2 because it has plasmolized/lost water/volume has decreased
27. [1 mark]
The giant marine alga Halicystis ovalis is able to move sodium ions from vacuoles to the
surrounding seawater through active transport.  Which condition or feature is required for
this mode of transport?
A. Movement from a region of higher sodium concentration to a region of lower sodium
concentration
B. A partially permeable surface
C. Membrane fluidity
D. Transmembrane proteins

Markscheme
D

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