Biology Matters G.C.E.

'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Respiration in Humans

Test Yourself 10.1 (page 197)

1. Respiration provides energy for living organisms to carry out vital activities.

2. Aerobic respiration in humans

Word equation: Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + oxygen + energy
Chemical equation: C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
Anaerobic respiration in humans
Word equation: Glucose  lactic acid + energy
Chemical equation: C6H12O6  2C3H6O3 + Energy

3. Pumping action of heart, breathing movements or movement of gut muscles.

Investigation 10.1 (page 199)

2. To remove dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide from the glucose solution. Oxygen must
be removed because fermentation is an anaerobic process. Carbon dioxide must be
removed so that it does not interfere with the results.
3. The layer of oil prevents oxygen in the air from entering the yeast suspension.
4. Bubbles emerge from the end of the delivery tube. A white precipitate is produced in the
limewater. Yeast releases carbon dioxide during anaerobic respiration.
5. Everything is the same except that boiled yeast suspension is used. The yeast
suspension is boiled and then cooled before use.

Investigation 10.2 (page 199)

1. Germinating seeds are actively growing and respiring.

2. The dilute antiseptic solution also prevents the growth of microorganisms like bacteria.
When bacteria respire, heat is also released.
4. It allows oxygen to diffuse in and carbon dioxide to diffuse out of the flask.
6. The reading should be higher than room temperature for flask A. Germinating seeds
release heat during respiration.
7. The advantages are:
– fewer seeds need to be used; and
– the thermometers need not be inserted too deeply into the flask so that they
can be read more easily.

Test Yourself 10.2 (page 200)

1. (a) The solution in tube A would turn yellow. The snail would respire and give
out carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide would dissolve in the water to form
carbonic acid.
The solution in B would turn purple. The green plant would photosynthesise
and remove carbon dioxide from the solution.
(b) Any carbon dioxide released by the snail is used up by the plant for
photosynthesis. The rate of photosynthesis = the rate of respiration in both
organisms.
(c) No. It serves as a colour control.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 10

2. (a)

(b) The sodium hydroxide would absorb any carbon dioxide produced as a result
of respiration, therefore any change in the volume of air inside the flask
would be due to the uptake of oxygen by the seeds. As oxygen is taken up
by the seeds, the coloured droplet would move along the capillary tube. The
position of the coloured droplet would indicate the volume of oxygen taken
in. Readings would be taken at suitable time intervals, e.g. 5 s, 10 s, 15 s and
then averaged to find out the rate of oxygen uptake by the germinating seeds.
(c) Changes in the temperature of the surroundings may affect the rate of
oxygen uptake by the germinating bean seeds. The temperature of the
surroundings should be kept constant. (Set-up should be placed in a warm
environment as the seeds are germinating).

3. (a) Rate of oxygen uptake

(b) To absorb carbon dioxide
(c) To the left
(d) Rate of oxygen uptake = (100 X (  X 12)/2) mm2/minute

Test Yourself 10.3 (page 207)

(a) A – cell surface membrane

B – cytoplasm
C – nucleus
(b) Refer to Figure 10.4
(c) Mucus
(d) Dust trapped in the mucus lining the air passages cannot be removed.

Investigation 10.3 (page 211)

4. A white precipitate has formed in the limewater in flask B. The limewater in flask A
remains clear.
5. Expired air contains more carbon dioxide than inspired air.

Investigation 10.4 (page 212)

3. Expired air has a higher temperature than inspired air.

Test Yourself 10.4 (page 213)

(a) Diffusion gradient for carbon dioxide between the blood and alveolar air increases.
Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood at faster rate. Carbon dioxide concentration in
blood decreases and stimulus for breathing decreases.
(b) Increasing the carbon dioxide in the air to 10%, even with a 69% increase above normal
in oxygen concentration, still increases the rate of breathing greatly. This shows that the
stimulus to breathing is carbon dioxide.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 10

Test Yourself 10.5 (page 217)

(a) 25 mg/cm3 of blood

(b) About 95
(c) Increase in nicotine concentration increases the pulse rate
(d) Adrenaline
(e) Carbon monoxide. It combines with haemoglobin in blood to form carboxyhaemoglobin.
This reduces the amount of oxygen combining with haemoglobin and makes transport of
oxygen to body cells less efficient.

Get It Right (page 219)

(a) False
In anaerobic respiration in humans, no carbon dioxide is released.
(b) False
Anaerobic respiration occurs in human muscles when muscular contractions are so
vigorous that maximum aerobic respiration is unable to release energy fast enough to
meet the demand.
(c) False
Breathing is different from respiration. Breathing refers to the muscular contractions
and movements of the ribs, which results in air moving in and out lungs. Respiration
on the other hand is the oxidation (breakdown) of food substances with the release of
energy in living cells.
(d) False
Carbon dioxide carried in the blood plasma is mostly in the form of
hydrogencarbonate ions.
(e) True

Let’s Review (page 219)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. D
2. C

Section B: Structured Questions

(a) A – one-cell thick alveolar wall

B – thin film of moisture
C – red blood cell
(b) Pulmonary vein
(c) Oxygen dissolves in the film of moisture on the alveolar wall. Dissolved oxygen diffuses
through the alveolar wall into the blood capillary. Once inside the blood capillary, oxygen
combines with haemoglobin in the red blood cell to form oxyhaemoglobin.

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Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 10

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a) Respiration is the oxidation of food substances in living cells to release

energy.
(b) The following adaptations in the lungs ensure efficient absorption of oxygen:
– The numerous alveoli in the lungs provide a large surface area;
– The wall of the alveolus is only one cell thick. This provides a short diffusion
distance for gases, ensuring a faster rate of diffusion;
– A thin film of moisture covers the surface of the alveolus. This allows oxygen to
dissolve in it; and
– The walls of the alveoli are richly supplied with blood capillaries. The flow of
blood maintains the concentration gradient of gases.

2. Expired air has:

– less oxygen and more carbon dioxide because oxygen is taken in by the body cells
and carbon dioxide is released.
– more water vapour as some water evaporates from the surfaces of the alveoli.
– a temperature around 37oC because it attains body temperature when within the
body.

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