Topic 3: The Chemistry of Life

1.
Assessment Statement Response Campbell pages Sample Test Questions
3.1 Chemical elements and water: 2 hours
3.1.1 State that the most Pg. 33 What element occurs in all proteins?
frequently occurring Nitrogen
chemical elements in
living things are
hydrogen, oxygen,
carbon, and nitrogen
3.1.2 State that a variety of Pg. 33
other elements are
needed by living
organisms, including
sulfur, calcium,
phosphorus, iron, and
sodium
3.1.3 State one role for each The major roles of these elements can be found What role does sulfur play in living organisms?
of the elements throughout the textbook. D. Component of proteins
mentioned in 3.1.2 IB says: Refer to the roles in plants, animals, and
prokaryotes
3.1.4 Draw and label a Pg 47-48 Draw and label a diagram, etc.
diagram showing the
structure of water
molecules to show their
polarity and hydrogen
bond formation
3.1.5 Outline the thermal, Pg. 48-52 Outline the thermal properties of water.
cohesive, and solvent
properties of water

3.1.6 Explain the relationship Pg. 48-52

between the properties
of water and its uses in IB says: Limit the properties to those outlined in 3.1.5
living organisms as a
coolant, medium for
metabolic reactions, and
transport medium.
3.2 Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins: 2hrs
3.2.1 Distinguish between Pg 58. Campbell defines “organic compounds” as
organic and inorganic “compounds containing carbon.” IB disagrees with that
compounds definition

IB says: Compounds containing carbon that are found in

living organisms (except hydrogen-carbonates,
carbonates, and oxides or carbon) are regarded as
organic.

3.2.2 Identify amino acids, Pg. 70-78

glucose, ribose and
fatty acids from IB says: Specific names of amino acids and fatty acids
diagrams showing their are not expected.
structure
3.2.3 List three examples IB says: The examples used should be: glucose,
each of galactose, and fructose; maltose, lactose, and sucrose;
monosaccharides, and starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
disaccharides, and
polysaccharides.

3.2.4 State one function of Pg. 70-72, does not include function of fructose
glucose, lactose, and
glycogen in animals,
and of fructose, sucrose,
and cellulose in plants.

3.2.5 Outline the role of Pg. 68-69

condensation and The relationships between condensation and hyrdrolysis
hydrolysis in the reactions and the formation and disassembly of
relationships between macromolecules is discussed in general though not with
monosaccharides, all the specific molecules at left.
disaccharides and Campbell uses the term “dehydration reaction” in some
polysaccharides; places instead of “condensation”. These terms refer to
between fatty acids, the same thing.
glycerol and IB says: This can be dealt with using equations with
triglycerides; and words or chemical formulas.
between amino acids
and polypeptides.
3.2.6 State three functions of Pg. 76-77
lipids
IB says: Include energy storage and thermal insulation.

3.2.7 Compare the use of Can be inferred from 70-76 May 2006 PM (SL)
carbohydrates and 7c. Describe why carbohydrates and lipids are used as
lipids in energy storage energy stores

(c) carbohydrates and lipids contain a lot of chemical

energy;
carbohydrates are readily used in cell respiration /
sugars are quick access energy
stores;
lipid molecules contain about twice as much energy
as carbohydrates;
complex
carbohydrates/polysaccharides/starch/glycogen are
also long term energy
stores;
lipids are long term energy reserves;
complex
carbohydrates/polysaccharides/starch/glycogen and
lipids are insoluble /
will not diffuse out of cells;
complex
carbohydrates/polysaccharides/starch/glycogen/lipid
 s do not contribute
(significantly) to osmotic pressure;
complex
carbohydrates/polysaccharides/starch/glycogen can
be converted into
sugars by hydrolysis;
carbohydrates and lipids burn cleaner than proteins /
do not yield N waste; [6 max]

(Plus up to [2] for quality)

3.3 DNA structure: 1 hour

3.3.1 Outline DNA Pg. 87
nucleotide structure in
terms of sugar IB says: Chemical formulas and the purine/pyrimidine
(deoxyribose), base, subdivision are not required. Simple shapes can be used
and phosphate. to represent the component parts. Only the relative
positions are required.

3.3.2 State the names of the Pg 88

four base pairs of DNA
3.3.3 Outline how DNA Pg 88
nucleotides are linked IB says: Only the relative positions are required.
together by covalent
bonds into a single
strand
3.3.4 Explain how a DNA Pg 88
double helix is formed
using complementary
base pairing and
hydrogen bonds.

3.3.5 Draw and label a simple Can be inferred from pages 87 and 88.
diagram of the IB says: An extension of the diagram in 3.3.3 is
molecular structure of sufficient to show the complementary base pairs of A-T
DNA and G-C held together by hydrogen bonds and the
sugar-phosphate backbones. The number of hydrogen
bonds between pairs and details of purine/pyrimidines
are not required.
3.4 DNA Replication: 1 hour
3.4.1 Explain DNA Pg. 89 6 May 2009 PM
replication in terms of Helicase and DNA polymerase are not mentioned until
unwinding the double pages 300-304 (Concept 16.2) 6b Explain the process of DNA replication. [8]
helix and separation of IB says: It is not necessary to mention that there is more
the strands by helicase, than one DNA polymerase.
followed by the
formation of new
complementary strands
by DNA polymerase.

3.4.2 Explain the significance Pg. 89

of complementary base
pairing in the
conservation of the base
sequence of DNA
3.4.3 State that DNA Pg. 299 2009 Specimen Paper
replication is semi-
conservative 6. The diagram shows part of a molecule produced by
replication of DNA. What is the significance of the
shaded and the unshaded regions? (One strand is
shaded and the complementary strand is unshaded)

A. The shaded parts are DNA and the unshaded parts

are mRNA.
B. The shaded parts contain adenine and thymine and
the unshaded parts contain guanine
and cytosine.

3.5 Transcription and Translation: 2 hours
3.5.1 Compare the structure
of RNA and DNA
C. The shaded part is a codon and unshaded part is an
anticodon.
D. One of the parts has been newly synthesized and
the other was part of a pre-existing
DNA molecule.
Pg. 88 6 May 2009 PM
IB says: Limit this to the names of sugars, bases, and the 6a Distinguish between DNA and RNA [3]
number of strands.

3.5.2 Outline DNA Pg. 311-315 May 2006 PM (SL)

transcription in terms of 5. (a) Determine the strand of mRNA that is
the formation of an transcribed from the DNA strand below.
RNA strand A–T–C–C–A–G–G–T–C–A–A–G
complementary to the [1]
DNA strand by RNA (b) List three of the other molecules, apart from
polymerase mRNA, required for transcription.
[3]

5. (a) – U – A – G – G – U – C – C – A – G – U – U –
C – [1]

(b) DNA;
RNA polymerase;
(ribose) nucleotides / ribonucleotides / RNA
nucleotides;
 transcription factors;
nucleoside/ribonucleoside triphosphates;
Any two of the following: A / C / G / U; [3 max]
3.5.3 Describe the genetic Pg 314
code in terms of codons
composed of triplets of
bases.

3.5.4 Explain the process of Pg 320-324 2009 Specimen Paper

translation, leading to
polypeptide formation. IB says: Include the roles of messenger RNA (mRNA), 7. If mRNA has a codon CAU, what is the
transfer RNA (tRNA), codons, anticodons, ribosomes corresponding anticodon on the tRNA molecule?
and amino acids. A. CAT
B. GUA
C. CAU
D. GTA

3.5.5 Discuss the relationship Pg. 310

between one gene and IB says: Originally, it was assumed that one gene would
one polypeptide. invariably code for one polypeptide, but many
exceptions have been discovered.
3.6 Enzymes: 2 hours
3.6.1 Define enzyme and Pg. 150
active site

3.6.2 Explain enzyme- Pg. 152 4 May 2006 PM (SL)

substrate specificity
IB says: The lock-and-key model can be used as a basis 4. (a) State why each step in a biochemical pathway
for the explantion. Refer to the three dimensional often requires a separate enzyme.
structure. The induced-fit model is not expected at SL. [2]

4. (a) enzymes are specific for their substrate / lock

and key model / energy requirements
for reactions with substrates vary;
each step of the pathway is unique / different
substrate at each step;
finer control of metabolic pathways; [2]

3.6.3 Explain the effects of Pg. 154 8. Which graph shows the relationship between the
temperature, pH, and substrate concentration and the rate of an enzyme
substrate concentration I did not find a mention in Campbell of how substrate controlled reaction?
on enzyme activity concentration affects enzyme activity.
May 2006 PM (SL)
4(b) Explain the effects of either changing
temperature or pH on enzyme activity.
[3]
(b) Either, temperature: [3 max]
each enzyme has an optimal temperature for its
maximum activity;
 (small) temperature increases result in increased
enzyme activity to a
point/optimum;
increase activity due to increased movement of
molecules / increased kinetic
energy or conversely stated;
temperature increases above the optimum causes
(progressive) loss of activity due
to denaturation/shape changes

or, pH: [3 max]

each enzyme has an optimal pH for its maximum
activity;
as pH varies from optimal pH, enzyme activity
diminishes / becomes inhibited;
loss of activity is due to denaturation/shape
changes;
gain or loss of hydrogen ions distorts tertiary shape
of enzyme;
homeostatic mechanisms maintain optimal
conditions for enzyme activity; [3 max]
Credit marking points above if illustrated by a
suitably annotated graph.
3.6.4 Define denaturation Pg 84

IB says: Refer only to heat and pH as agents.

3.6.5 Explain the use of Not discussed in Campbell.
lactase in the
production of lactose-
free milk

3.7 Cell respiration: 2 hours

3.7.1 Define cell respiration
Pg. 161
Important: Campbell uses the term “cellular
respiration” to refer ONLY to aerobic respiration. IB
uses the term “cell respiration” to refer to both aerobic
and anaerobic respiration.

3.7.2 State that, in cell Pg. 165

respiration, glucose in
the cytoplasm is broken
down by glycolysis into
pyruvate, with a small
yield of ATP.
3.7.3 Explain that, during Pg. 175
anaerobic respiration, IB says: Mention that ethanol and carbon dioxide are
pyruvate can be produced in yeast, whereas lactate is produced in
converted in the humans.
cytoplasm into lactate,
or ethanol and carbon
dioxide, with no further
yield of ATP.

3.7.4 Explain that, during Pg. 168-174 2009 Specimen Paper

aerobic cell respiration,
pyruvate can be broken 9. Humans can respire aerobically and anaerobically.
down in the Which are products of both aerobic cell respiration
mitochondria into and anaerobic cell respiration in humans?
carbon dioxide and A. pyruvate and ATP
water with a large yield B. pyruvate and lactate
of ATP. C. ATP and carbon dioxide
D. lactate and carbon dioxide

3.8 Photosynthesis: 3 hours

3.8.1 State that Pg. 181
photosynthesis involves
the conversion of light
energy into chemical
energy.
3.8.2 State that light from the Pg. 186
Sun is composed of a
range of wavelengths IB says: Reference to actual wavelengths or frequencies
(colours). is not expected.

3.8.3 State that chlorophyll is Pg. 182

the main photosynthetic
pigment.
3.8.4 Outline the differences Pg. 187-188
in absorption of red,
blue, and green light by IB says: Students should appreciate that pigments
chlorophyll. absorb certain colors of light. The remaining colors of
light are reflected. It is not necessary to mention
wavelengths or the structure responsible for the
absorption.

3.8.5 State that light energy is Pg. 184-185

used to produce ATP,
and to split water
molecules (photolysis)
to form oxygen and
hydrogen.
3.8.6 State that ATP and Pg. 184-185
hydrogen (derived from
the photolysis of water)
are used to fix carbon
dioxide to make organic
molecules.
3.8.7 Explain that the rate of Not specifically discussed in Campbell. May 2006 PM (SL)
photosynthesis can be IB says: The recall of details of specific experiments to 7. (b) Explain how the rate of photosynthesis can be
measured directly by indicate that photosynthesis has occurred or to measure measured. [7]
the production of the rate of photosynthesis is not expected.
oxygen or the uptake of (b) CO2 +H2O (CH2O)n + O2 / suitable
carbon dioxide, or photosynthesis equation;
indirectly by an amount of CO2 absorbed (per unit time) can be
increase in biomass. measured;
measuring the increase of biomass (per unit time);
O2 excretion (per unit time) can be measured;
methods for measuring the above:
volume of O2 (bubbles) produced per unit time can
be measured;
dry mass can be weighed;
increase in starch concentration in leaves (as
measured by iodine);
use of pH indicator can monitor CO2 uptake in
water;
the rate of photosynthesis measured is relative
because some of the CO2 is
produced by the plant internally through respiration;
the rate of photosynthesis measured is relative
because some of the carbohydrates
are used internally by the plant for respiration; [7
max]
3.8.8 Outline the effects of Not specifically discussed in Campbell 2009 Specimen Paper
temperature, light 5(b) Outline the role of chlorophyll and the effects of
intensity, and carbon temperature, light intensity and carbon
dioxide concentration dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis.
on the rate of [6]
photosynthesis.
(b) chlorophyll is composed of a number of pigments;
absorb different colours of light;
mainly red and blue absorbed;
green light reflected;

temperature increases rate;

up to a point where enzymes denature;

light intensity increases rate;

up to a point where maximum absorbance can occur;

carbon dioxide increases rate;

up to a point where fixation is at a maximum; [6
max]