| Date | May 2016 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 16M.3.sl.TZ0.8 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Identify | Question number | 8 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a substance banned under the World Anti-Doping Code.
Steroid abuse has certain health hazards, some general, some specific to males and some specific to females. Identify one health hazard in each category.
General Hazard:
Male Hazard:
Female Hazard:
(i) State the name of the functional group circled in the DHEA molecule shown below.
(ii) Identify the characteristic of this structure that classifies it as a steroid.
The production of banned steroids has ethical implications. Suggest a reason why steroid research might be supported.
Markscheme
General hazards:
acne
OR
weight gain
OR
liver/kidney damage
OR
stunted growth
OR
disruption of puberty
OR
increased aggressiveness
OR
increased risk of heart disease/atherosclerosis/heart attacks/strokes√
General hazards:
Accept heart problems.
Male hazards:
feminization/breast «tissue» development
OR
shrinking of the testes/testicles
OR
reduction in sperm production
OR
impotence
Male hazards:
Accept baldness.
Female hazards:
decreased breast development
OR
masculinisation
OR
infertility/abnormal menstrual cycles
OR
birth defects/altered fetus development
(i)
alkenyl/ethanylylidene
(ii)
four-ring «steroidal» backbone
OR
fused ring structure
OR
three 6-membered rings AND a 5-membered ring
Award [1] for a sketch of the steroidal backbone.
medical uses of steroids «under physician supervision»
OR
detection of banned substances can be improved
Accept any specific medical use.
Accept answers such as “their effects «either positive or negative» are better understood”.
