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CAIE IGCSE Biology 3 Movement Into and Out of Cells Questions

Practise comparing diffusion, osmosis and active transport and applying each process to cells, organisms and practical data.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Covered syllabus points

3.1 Diffusion3.2 Osmosis3.3 Active transport

Question 1

[Maximum number: 13]

Fig. 1.1 shows the movement of particles through an epithelial cell in the small intestine.

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.1

Question (a)

(a)

In Fig. 1.1, arrow P represents the diffusion of oxygen molecules.

[ 3 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Describe what is meant by the term diffusion.

[ 2 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State the type of energy needed for diffusion.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Carbon dioxide molecules also move by diffusion.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of diffusion of carbon dioxide molecules.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

In Fig. 1.1, arrow Q represents another type of particle movement.

Identify the type of particle movement represented by arrow Q.
Explain your answer.
type of movement
explanation

[ 3 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Fig. 1.2 is a photomicrograph of red onion cells.

Fig. 1.2

Fig. 1.2

Fig. 1.3 is a photomicrograph of the same red onion cells after being immersed in a salt solution.

Fig. 1.3

Fig. 1.3

Using Fig． 1.2 and Fig．1．3，describe and explain the difference in appearance of the cells before and after immersion in salt solution．

[ 6 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Digestive enzymes catalyse the breakdown of large insoluble molecules.

State the name of the substance that is the solvent for most molecules that have been digested by enzymes.

Question 3

[Maximum number: 9]

Some students investigated osmosis in raw potato sticks.

Question (a)

(a)

Define the term osmosis.

[ 3 ]

Question (b)

(b)

The students measured the mass of four of the potato sticks using an electronic balance.

Fig. 4.1 shows an electronic balance.

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.1

The students left each potato stick in one of four different liquids for 5 hours:
- distilled water
- 0.1 mol per dm3\mathrm{dm}^{3} sodium chloride solution
- 0.5 mol per dm3\mathrm{dm}^{3} sodium chloride solution
- 1.0 mol per dm3\mathrm{dm}^{3} sodium chloride solution.

After 5 hours they measured the mass again and calculated the change in mass.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Predict which of the liquids would cause the largest decrease in mass of a potato stick.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

After the experiment the students noticed that the potato stick with the lowest mass was soft and floppy.

Explain why the potato stick had become soft and floppy.

[ 3 ]

Question (d)

(d)

The students followed the same experimental procedure with boiled potato sticks and found no overall change in mass in any of the solutions.

Suggest why the mass of the boiled potato sticks remained the same.

[ 2 ]
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