Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 16N.3.sl.TZ0.16 |
Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ0 |
Command term | Outline and Suggest | Question number | 16 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Penicillin is an antibiotic which contains a beta-lactam ring. Its general structure is shown below.
(i) Outline what is meant by the term “ring strain”.
(ii) On the diagram above, label with asterisk/s (*) the carbon atom/s that experience ring strain.
(i) Some antibiotic-resistant bacteria produce a beta-lactamase enzyme which destroys penicillin activity. Suggest how adding clavulanic acid to penicillin enables the antibiotic to retain its activity.
(ii) Populations of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have increased significantly over the last 60 years. Outline why antibiotics such as penicillin should not be prescribed to people suffering from a viral infection.
Markscheme
i
bond angles smaller/distorted
OR
instability resulting from abnormal bond angles
OR
bond angles «approximately» 90° instead of 109.5°/120°
Accept “109/110°” for “109.5°”
ii
asterisks (*) on all 3 lactam ring carbon atoms
Must mark all 3 carbon atoms.
Ignore asterisks on the RHS carbon atoms of the five-membered ring.
i
beta-lactam/four-membered ring «in clavulanic acid» reacts with enzyme/beta lactamase
Accept “acts as enzyme inhibitor/suicide substrate/preferentially binds to enzyme”.
ii
antibiotics not effective against viruses
OR
viruses have no cell wall/cell structure/target structures to attack
increasing exposure of bacteria «to antibiotic» increases resistance
Accept “antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria” for M2.