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Date May 2021 Marks available 1 Reference code 21M.1.HL.TZ1.8
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 1
Command term Question number 8 Adapted from N/A

Question

The graph shows the progress of the same enzyme-controlled reaction at two different temperatures.

Which statement is clearly supported by the data?

A. The amount of product produced initially occurs at a lower rate at 40 °C

B. The optimum temperature for the reaction is 40 °C

C. The lower the temperature, the slower the rate of the reaction

D. The enzyme is denatured at 40 °C

Markscheme

C

Examiners report

About 60 % of candidates answered correctly, but the discrimination index was lower than expected. Answers A and D could be rejected relatively easily. B and C both fit the data on the graph, but are not proved by it. Of the two, C is the better answer because with curves for only two temperatures, neither of them is likely to be the optimum, whereas the rate is clearly lower for 40 °C than 20 °C, supporting the statement that the lower the temperature the slower the rate.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 2: Molecular biology » 2.5 Enzymes
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