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Date May 2019 Marks available 2 Reference code 19M.3.hl.TZ1.12
Level HL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Calculate Question number 12 Adapted from N/A

Question

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) catalyses the oxidation of methanol. The products of oxidation, methanal and methanoic acid, are toxic.

A Michaelis–Menten plot for an enzyme-catalysed reaction is shown.

Sketch a curve to show the effect of a competitive inhibitor.

[1]
a(i).

Suggest, based on the Michaelis–Menten plot, how a competitive inhibitor such as ethanol reduces the toxicity of methanol.

[2]
a(ii).

Enzymatic activity is studied in buffered aqueous solutions.

Calculate the ratio in which 0.1 mol dm−3 NaH2PO4 (aq) and 0.1 mol dm−3 Na2HPO4 (aq) should be mixed to obtain a buffer with pH = 6.10. Use section 1 of the data booklet.

pKa (NaH2PO4) = 7.20

[2]
b.

Markscheme

   [✔]

 

Note: Line must start at origin, to the right of original line and bending toward the same Vmax.

a(i).

Km is higher /same Vmax reached at higher [substrate]    [✔]

slower reaction rate
OR
gives time to excrete/eliminate methanol    [✔]

a(ii).

«pH = pKa + log  [ HPO 4 2 ] [ H 2 PO 4 ] / 6.10 = 7.20 + log  [ HPO 4 2 ] [ H 2 PO 4 ] »

log [ HPO 4 2 ] [ H 2 PO 4 ] = «6.10 – 7.20 =» –1.10
OR
[ HPO 4 2 ] [ H 2 PO 4 ] = «10–1.10 =» 0.079    [✔]

NaH2PO4 : Na2HPO4 = 12.6 : 1    [✔]

 

Note: Award [2] for correct final answer.

b.

Examiners report

Most candidates correctly sketched a curve to show the effect of a competitive inhibitor on a Michaelis-Menten plot.

a(i).

Many scored 1 out of 2 for stating that the inhibitor causes a slower reaction rate.

a(ii).

The calculation of the ratio of a conjugate acid-base pair to create a buffer with a specific pH was poorly done. Some candidates wrote a ratio without indicating which compound each value referred to and thus could not score. Many candidates used the concentrations of 0.1 mol dm−3 for both compounds and could not proceed.

b.

Syllabus sections

Options » B: Biochemistry » B.7 Proteins and enzymes (HL only)
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