plumiGas exchange and cell membranes: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Gas exchange and cell membranes (specification points 2.1–2.2), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q5(a)
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Q3(a)
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Q2(a)(i)
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Q2(b)(ii)
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Q2(b)(iii)
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Q8(a)(i)
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Q8(a)(ii)
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Q8(a)(iii)
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Q8(b)
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Q8(c)
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Q4(b)(i)
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Q4(c)(i)
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Q4(c)(ii)
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Q6(b)(i)
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Q8(c)
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Q6(a)
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Q6(b)
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Q8(c)(i)
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Q8(c)(ii)
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All 59 questions on Gas exchange and cell membranes, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(a) (3 marks): Describe the fluid mosaic structure of a cell surface membrane. (3)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): The cell surface membrane also contains cholesterol. This diagram represents cholesterol. hydrophilic component hydrophobic component Describe how the cholester
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the volume of this cone-shaped Stentor. Use the equation for the volume of a cone: h π V r 2 3 Give your answer to three decimal places. (2) mm3
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the phospholipids labelled Q and R have different shapes. (2)
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): Predict the effect of increasing the proportion of the phospholipid labelled S on one of the properties of this cell membrane. (1)
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following is represented by Y in the equation in this context? (1) A carbon dioxide concentration difference between alveoli and red blood cells B
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): The diffusion distance is given by Z in the equation. Which of the following would be included in this diffusion distance? 1. thickness of the epithelial cells
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8(a)(iii) (2 marks): People with emphysema can develop hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition which results from low blood oxygen concentrations. This can be due to a low rate of oxygen di
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8(b) (3 marks): The graph shows the effect of duration of training at a high altitude on the mass of haemoglobin in an athlete. 9 8 7 6 Percentage 5 increase in haemoglobin 4 c
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8(c) (6 marks): At altitudes above 7000 m, most mountain climbers wear masks connected to an oxygen supply. The oxygen supply apparatus can weigh from 3.5 to 7 kg. The table gi
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): The CFTR protein is produced in cells of the lung and is involved in the transport of chloride ions. Describe the location of the CFTR protein in the cell membr
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): State and justify a suitable control for this investigation. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (4 marks): Evaluate the effect of concentration of the three alcohols on the haemolysis of red blood cells. (4)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (4 marks): Explain how the structure of their lungs enables shrews to get oxygen into the body rapidly. (4)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q8(c) (6 marks): The table shows the proportion of two components found in the cell surface membrane of two cells of the nervous system. Percentage composition of the Cell of th
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q6(a) (4 marks): Explain why emphysema affects the rate of gas exchange between the alveolus and the blood. (4)
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q6(b) (6 marks): Forced expiration volume (FEV) is the maximum volume of air a person can breathe out in one second. Emphysema reduces FEV. The effects of ageing and long‑term c
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q7 (14 marks): One component of the cell surface membrane is the phospholipid bilayer. The diagram shows a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipid A Phospholipid B (i) A cell surfa
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the volume of a beetroot disc with a diameter of 1 cm and a height of 5 mm to one decimal place. Include the appropriate unit. Use the formula V = πr2
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): The relative colour of the ethanol after 30 minutes was measured using a colorimeter. The results of the investigation are shown in the graph. Relative colour o
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q8(c)(iii) (4 marks): Devise a valid investigation to compare the effects of ethanol and propanol on the permeability of beetroot membranes. (4)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(d) (3 marks): Beetroot cells contain the pigment betalain. When beetroot cells are placed in alcohol, the concentration of betalain in the cells changes. Explain why alcohol
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q6(a) (2 marks): Deduce why the skin and the lungs of this frog are involved in the exchange of oxygen. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a) (3 marks): Describe the structure of the cell surface membrane. (3)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): The red blood cells of individuals with spherocytosis are spherical instead of having a biconcave disc shape. Explain the effect of spherocytosis on the uptake
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): How many times does an oxygen molecule cross a cell surface membrane to move from the centre of an alveolus to the centre of a red blood cell? (1) A 2 B 3 C 4 D
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these labels identifies a glycoprotein? (1) A P B Q C R D S
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the diagram to show the arrangement of four phospholipid molecules at this surface. (2) air water
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the molecules found in cell membranes have hydrophilic regions? (1) A channel proteins only B only phospholipids and channel proteins C phospholipids,
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): The vacuoles in beetroot cells contain molecules of betalain, a red pigment. Betalains are large polar molecules. These molecules can leave beetroot cells if th
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): The colour of the 0.5% detergent solution was 0.25 a.u. Plot this result on the graph. (1)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (6 marks): Two students made predictions about the effect of increasing the concentration of detergent. The sketch graphs show the results they expected. 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q7(c) (4 marks): A student placed the same volume of starch suspension into two bags made of Visking tubing. Each bag had a different length and width. The thickness of the Visk
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following describes molecule P? (1) A carrier protein B cholesterol C glycolipid D glycoprotein
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the following molecules is involved in cell recognition? (1) A Q B R C S D T
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the shaded structures contain both hydrophilic regions and hydrophobic regions? (1) A 1 and 2 only B 3 and 4 only C 1, 2 and 3 only D 1, 2, 3 and 4
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): A student measured the width of the phospholipid bilayer shown on the diagram as 2.5 cm. The actual size of this bilayer is 5 nm. What is the approximate magnif
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): Explain why the phospholipids are arranged in two layers in a cell surface membrane. (3)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q5(b) (3 marks): A method for pickling red onions is to immerse them in wine vinegar. This vinegar contains ethanoic acid. The vinegar causes anthocyanin pigments to leave the o
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Give one function of the glycoproteins found in the cell surface membrane. (1)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): A cell surface membrane is partially permeable. The phospholipid bilayer is important in controlling the movement of molecules through the membrane. Explain how
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2(a) (3 marks): Explain how phospholipids form a cell surface membrane. (3)
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q7(b) (3 marks): The electron micrographs show the blood-gas barriers for a chicken and a dog. capillary blood-gas barrier alveolus 2ȝm 2ȝm Chicken Dog Explain how the blood-gas
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean surface area for gas exchange : volume ratio for individuals with mild emphysema. (2) Answer
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): There appears to be a difference in the lung volume of individuals with mild emphysema and those with severe emphysema. Which of the following would be a releva
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(a)(iii) (2 marks): Give reasons for the variation in the lung volumes of healthy individuals. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give a reason for calculating the surface area for gas exchange to volume ratio in this investigation. (1)
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the value for individuals with severe emphysema. (2) Answer …
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage difference between the value for individuals with severe emphysema and the value for individuals without emphysema. (2) Answer …
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q9(c) (3 marks): Explain why individuals with severe emphysema will tire more easily than healthy individuals. (3)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(a) (2 marks): The drawing shows the cell surface membrane of a liver cell. The drawing has a magnification of 5 × 106. X Y Calculate the actual length of the glycoprotein bet
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(b) (9 marks): The ratio of lipid to protein in a cell surface membrane is approximately 1:1. Scientists have studied the proteins present within human cells. Proteins in a ce
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): The volume of a sphere can be calculated using the following equation. 4 π r 3 V = 3 What is the volume of a cell with a diameter of 4 cm? (1) A 33.51 cm2 B 33.
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe why single-celled organisms, such as Valonia ventricosa, do not need a specialised gas exchange surface. (2)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q2(b) (4 marks): Mammalian lungs are adapted for rapid gas exchange. Explain how the structure of the human lungs enables rapid gas exchange. (4)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q2(d) (2 marks): Emphysema is a disease of the respiratory system that affects the structure of the lungs. small air enlarged spaces air spaces Lung without emphysema Lung with
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the molecules labelled in the diagram is a glycoprotein? (1) A B C D
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q3(b) (4 marks): Anthocyanins are purple pigments found in the cells of red cabbage leaves. A student investigated the following hypothesis: ‘The permeability of cell membranes
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q8(b)(iii) (6 marks): Oxygen diffuses between the alveoli of the lungs and the blood. Fick’s Law shows how three factors affect the rate of diffusion: Rate of diffusion = surface are
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