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Date May 2017 Marks available 2 Reference code 17M.3.hl.TZ1.17
Level HL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Outline Question number 17 Adapted from N/A

Question

Vision is dependent on retinol (vitamin A) present in retina cells. Retinol is oxidized to the photosensitive chemical 11-cis-retinal and isomerizes to 11-trans-retinal on absorption of light.

Outline how the formation of 11-trans-retinal results in the generation of nerve signals to the brain.

Markscheme

11-trans retinal no longer fits into the rhodopsin/protein
OR
11-trans retinal is ejected from the rhodopsin/protein

leads to conformational change in rhodopsin/protein «to opsin generating signals»

[2 marks]

Examiners report

[N/A]

Syllabus sections

Additional higher level (AHL) » Topic 20: Organic chemistry » 20.3 Stereoisomerism
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