AQA BIOLOGY A-LEVEL PAPER 2
REVISION QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2023
describe and explain the steps in the light dependent reaction of photosynthesis
(Correct Answers) 1. photoionisation: light reaches chlorophyll in PSII, which is
absorbed by an electron, which becomes excited and moves to a higher energy level.
2. the electron passes to a carrier protein in the thylakoid membrane, and is passed
down a series of carrier molecules called an electron transfer chain.
3. as the electron moves down, energy is lost from the electron and is released as ATP.
4. the loss of electron from PSII is 'refilled' by an electron produced by photolysis, which
also produces hydrogen and oxygen.
5. the lost electron reaches PSI, which absorbs light energy and boosts another electron
to a higher energy level (excitation).
6. this electron also goes down an electron transport chain.
7. this reaches the final electron acceptor which is a proton. they combine to form H and
reduce NADP to NADPH.
describe and explain the steps in the light independent reaction pf photosynthesis.
(Correct Answers) 1. CO2 diffuses into stroma and combines with ribulose
bisphosphate (RuBP) using the enzyme rubisco.
2. this forms an unstable 6 carbon molecule, which splits into 2 3 carbon molecules,
glyercate-3-phosphate (G3P) .
3. G3P is reduced by NADPH to triose-phosphate (TP), which is aided by ATP for
energy.
4. TP can be converted into useful organic substances.
5. TP can also be reformed into RuBP using ATP.
describe glycolysis in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. glucose is
converted into phosphorylated glucose by 2ATP. this makes it very reactive, so it splits
into 2 triose phosphate (TP).
2. 2TP is then oxidised by 2NAD and 4 ATP is formed to form pyruvate.
3. NET: 2ATP, 2Pyruvate, 2NADH, 2H+
describe links reaction in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. pyruvate
diffuses into the matrix of mitochondria.
2. pyruvate is oxidised by NAD. CO2 is lost. this forms acetate.
3. acetate and co-enzyme A combine to form acetyl co-enzyme A.
4. NET: CO2, reduced NAD, acetyl co-enzyme A
, describe krebs cycle in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. acetyl co-
enzyme A combines with 4 carbon molecule (oxaloacetate) to form 6 carbon citric acid.
2. CO2 is lost (decarboxylation), molecule is oxidised by NAD and ATP is produce. this
forms 5 carbon compound.
3. it is oxidised by 2NADH and FAD, and is decarboxylated.
4. this forms 4 carbon molecule again.
describe oxidative phosphorylation in respiration. (Correct Answers) 1. reduced
coenzyme passes its H to a carrier protein in the ETC. this splits into a proton and
electron.
2. the protons pass through the space between inner and outer mitochondrial
membrane.
3. electrons pass through proteins on ETC.
4. protons return back via ATP synthase in the membrane, producing ATP.
5. the protons and electrons recombine to form H, which combines with O to form water.
6. oxygen is the last electron acceptor in the ETC.
define biomass (Correct Answers) the total mass of organisms in a given area
what is the 'gross primary production' (Correct Answers) the chemical energy stored in a
plants biomass
what is the 'net primary production' (Correct Answers) the chemical energy stores in a
plants biomass after respiratory losses have been considered. this energy is available to
consumers.
how can you calculate the net primary production? (Correct Answers) NPP = GPP - R
why is converting sunlight energy into biomass in producers inefficient? (Correct
Answers) some light isn't the correct wavelength to be absorbed
some light doesnt hit chloroplast
some light is converted into heat energy
some light energy is reflected
describe the nitrogen cycle. (Correct Answers) fixation:
atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed by rhizbium bacteria.
if struck by lightning, it becomes reactive and combines with oxygen to form NO.
ammonification:
saprobionts feed on organic matter and release ammonia, which then forms ammonium
ions in the soil.
nitrification:
nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium ions into nitrite ions and then to nirate ions.
REVISION QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2023
describe and explain the steps in the light dependent reaction of photosynthesis
(Correct Answers) 1. photoionisation: light reaches chlorophyll in PSII, which is
absorbed by an electron, which becomes excited and moves to a higher energy level.
2. the electron passes to a carrier protein in the thylakoid membrane, and is passed
down a series of carrier molecules called an electron transfer chain.
3. as the electron moves down, energy is lost from the electron and is released as ATP.
4. the loss of electron from PSII is 'refilled' by an electron produced by photolysis, which
also produces hydrogen and oxygen.
5. the lost electron reaches PSI, which absorbs light energy and boosts another electron
to a higher energy level (excitation).
6. this electron also goes down an electron transport chain.
7. this reaches the final electron acceptor which is a proton. they combine to form H and
reduce NADP to NADPH.
describe and explain the steps in the light independent reaction pf photosynthesis.
(Correct Answers) 1. CO2 diffuses into stroma and combines with ribulose
bisphosphate (RuBP) using the enzyme rubisco.
2. this forms an unstable 6 carbon molecule, which splits into 2 3 carbon molecules,
glyercate-3-phosphate (G3P) .
3. G3P is reduced by NADPH to triose-phosphate (TP), which is aided by ATP for
energy.
4. TP can be converted into useful organic substances.
5. TP can also be reformed into RuBP using ATP.
describe glycolysis in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. glucose is
converted into phosphorylated glucose by 2ATP. this makes it very reactive, so it splits
into 2 triose phosphate (TP).
2. 2TP is then oxidised by 2NAD and 4 ATP is formed to form pyruvate.
3. NET: 2ATP, 2Pyruvate, 2NADH, 2H+
describe links reaction in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. pyruvate
diffuses into the matrix of mitochondria.
2. pyruvate is oxidised by NAD. CO2 is lost. this forms acetate.
3. acetate and co-enzyme A combine to form acetyl co-enzyme A.
4. NET: CO2, reduced NAD, acetyl co-enzyme A
, describe krebs cycle in respiration. give net formation. (Correct Answers) 1. acetyl co-
enzyme A combines with 4 carbon molecule (oxaloacetate) to form 6 carbon citric acid.
2. CO2 is lost (decarboxylation), molecule is oxidised by NAD and ATP is produce. this
forms 5 carbon compound.
3. it is oxidised by 2NADH and FAD, and is decarboxylated.
4. this forms 4 carbon molecule again.
describe oxidative phosphorylation in respiration. (Correct Answers) 1. reduced
coenzyme passes its H to a carrier protein in the ETC. this splits into a proton and
electron.
2. the protons pass through the space between inner and outer mitochondrial
membrane.
3. electrons pass through proteins on ETC.
4. protons return back via ATP synthase in the membrane, producing ATP.
5. the protons and electrons recombine to form H, which combines with O to form water.
6. oxygen is the last electron acceptor in the ETC.
define biomass (Correct Answers) the total mass of organisms in a given area
what is the 'gross primary production' (Correct Answers) the chemical energy stored in a
plants biomass
what is the 'net primary production' (Correct Answers) the chemical energy stores in a
plants biomass after respiratory losses have been considered. this energy is available to
consumers.
how can you calculate the net primary production? (Correct Answers) NPP = GPP - R
why is converting sunlight energy into biomass in producers inefficient? (Correct
Answers) some light isn't the correct wavelength to be absorbed
some light doesnt hit chloroplast
some light is converted into heat energy
some light energy is reflected
describe the nitrogen cycle. (Correct Answers) fixation:
atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed by rhizbium bacteria.
if struck by lightning, it becomes reactive and combines with oxygen to form NO.
ammonification:
saprobionts feed on organic matter and release ammonia, which then forms ammonium
ions in the soil.
nitrification:
nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium ions into nitrite ions and then to nirate ions.
