Biology paper 6 special notes

Magnification:

Drawings:
● Draw using a sharp pencil
● Keep a clear outline
● Drawing should occupy more than 50% of space provided
● No sketchy lines nor shadings
● When labelling dont draw an arrow on the label line
● Draw label line with ruler and be precise when aiming for the objective

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Drawings:
● When making a comparison dont compare sizes unless you are given a
scale
● Make sure the points you use to compare diagrams are visible in the
diagrams
● You can compare numbers shape and proportional sizes.
● Use labels on the diagrams as your guide
Drawing Graphs:
● Use a sharp pencil
● Label both axes including the units and a key may be needed to
indicate different plots
● Choose an even scale for each axis that uses up as much of the grid as
possible.
● The independent variable is plotted on the x-axis The dependent
variable (i.e. the one that changes due to a change of the other) is
plotted on the y-axis.
● Join your plotted points with ruled lines When drawing bar charts, all
bars must be of the same width The bars, when drawn cannot touch
each other
● Use crosses “(×)” or “⊙” to mark the data points (for scatter graphs)
Note:

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Food Tests:
● Starch: Add few drops of iodine, +ve result = blue-black color
● Reducing sugars: Add Benedict’s reagent, then mixture is heated in
water bath for 2 to 3 minutes. +ve result (increasing concentration of
sugar) = blue → brick red -ve result = remains blue
● Proteins: Add few drops of Biuret reagent, +ve result = purple/lilac
color, -ve result = remains blue
● Fats: Emulsion test; ethanol is added to mixture, and this is poured into
a test tube with an equal amount of distilled water, +ve result =
milky-white emulsion

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Planning Investigations:
Independent Variable: The variable you will change
Dependent Variable: The variable you will measure.
Control Variable: Variables that you will keep the same.
Use: I Don’t Care So Run Away (IDCSRA) ·
● I– State the independent variable, describe how are you going to
change it (include names of apparatus), State the values with units ·
● D– State the dependent variable, State the units, State how you are
going to measure it ·
● C– State three different control variables, describe how you are going
to control them ·
● Safety – State a safety measure and how would you eliminate the risk ·
● Repeat – State Repeat the experiment three times ·
● Average – State that you would calculate an average (Numerical Data)
Note:

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Enzyme Activity:
2H 2 ​O 2 ​(l)→ 2H 2 ​O (l)+ O 2 ​
This reaction can be catalyzed by an enzyme (catalase) or by a non-biological
catalyst (Manganese IV oxide)
Method:
● Put 3 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide in a test tube.
● Add fresh potato strips and shake gently.
● Keep your thumb on top of the test tube, or use a stopper, to retain the
gas.
● Do the “glowing splint” test → the splint relights
● Positive control: repeat original experiment using manganese IV oxide
→ bubbles of O2 form
● Conclusion: Reaction happens because of a catalyst
● 1st negative control: repeat original experiment using boiled potato
strips → nothing happens
● Conclusion: Enzymes denature when they are at high temperatures
● 2nd negative control: repeat original experiment using water instead of
hydrogen peroxide → nothing happens
● Conclusion: hydrogen peroxide is the substrate
● 3rd negative control: repeat in a cold environment, the effervescence
should be slower
● Conclusion: enzymes don’t work as well in the cold

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Factors of Photosynthesis:

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Investigating Transpiration:
1. Use a sharp razor blade to cut a leafy shoot under water.
2. Insert the leafy shoot through the hole of the stopper provided with
the potometer.
3. Fill the potometer with water and fit the stopper holding the leafy
shoot to the apparatus.
4. Trap an air bubble in the capillary tube by the following procedures:
5. dip the end of the capillary tube into a beaker of water
6. close the tap of the reservoir
7. take away beaker of water and allow the plant to transpire
8. re-immerse the capillary tube into the beaker of water again.
9. Estimate rate of transpiration by measuring distance moved by the air
bubble per unit time.

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Investigating Insulation:

● Flask A represents a hairless mammal, B represents a mammal with

dry fur and C represents a mammal with wet fur
● Equal amounts of hot water are added to the flask and temperature
change after a set period of time is measured using a submerged
thermometer.
● Lowest temperature change means best insulated.

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Germination:

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Geotropism:

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Phototropism:

Good Procedures:
● Repeat readings to spot anomalous errors or to calculate an average
● Avoid making parallax errors, {the line of sight should be perpendicular to
the reading on the scale}
● Look carefully at any scale that is used
● Notice the unit in which the scale is calibrated - always give the unit of
any measurement
● Notice the maximum reading that can be obtained
● Notice the smallest change in value that can be obtained
● Aim to use quantities that have magnitudes that are towards the upper
values of the scale

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Respiration:

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