3.1 Communicable diseases

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Question 2
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Name one chemical barrier the human body uses to defend itself against pathogens.

A student investigated the effect of different concentrations of a disinfectant on the survival of bacteria.

This is the method used:

  1. Prepare four test tubes each with 10 cm310\text{ cm}^310 cm3 of nutrient broth.
  2. Add disinfectant to adjust the concentrations to 0%0\%0%, 1%1\%1%, 2%2\%2%, and 4%4\%4%.
  3. Add 1 cm31\text{ cm}^31 cm3 of a bacterial culture to each test tube.
  4. Take a 0.1 cm30.1\text{ cm}^30.1 cm3 sample from each test tube immediately (0 hours) and record the number of live bacteria.
  5. Keep the test tubes at 35∘C35^\circ\text{C}35∘C for 12 hours.
  6. Repeat step 4.

Table 1 shows some of the results.

Time in hoursNumber of live bacteria at disinfectant concentration
0%1%2%4%
0320320320325
12280Y8016
a.

Name one chemical barrier the human body uses to defend itself against pathogens.

[1]
b.

What fraction of the bacteria present at 0 hours for 2% disinfectant survived for 12 hours? Give your answer in its simplest form.

[2]
c.

How many more bacteria were killed at 4% disinfectant than at 0% disinfectant in 12 hours? Complete the following steps:

  • Calculate the number of bacteria killed at 4%
  • Calculate the number of bacteria killed at 0%
  • Calculate how many more bacteria were killed at 4% than at 0%
[3]
d.

A student calculated value Y in Table 1 to be 180. Suggest how the student calculated this value.

[2]

3.1 Communicable diseases Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Biology
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