Download Schools Analyst Competition

Royal Society of Chemistry
Analytical Division North West Region
Schools Analyst
Competition
10th April 2003
Four and Twenty Questions
Adran Cemeg - Department of Chemistry
Prifysgol Cymru - University of Wales
BANGOR
Four and Twenty Questions - See how many you can answer but you must answer
Question Numbers 5, 6, 17, 18 and 19 - Please write your answers in the space below the
question
1.
In what way is the simple equation we have given you for
photosynthesis wrong?
(1 mark)
2.
How was this realised?
(1 mark)
3.
How could you demonstrate experimentally that the Equation
was wrong.
(2 marks)
4.
Write a more correct equation.
(1 mark)
5.
What is a proton?
(1 mark)
6.
What is a photon?
(1 mark)
7.
What compound in the cell converts light energy to biological energy
during photosynthesis?
(1 mark)
8.
How long has nature been carrying out this process?
(2 marks)
9.
How do we learn this?
(2 marks)
10.
Why is Rhinomonas, not green like most plants?
(1 mark)
11.
What is the name of the compound that causes it to be red and
why is it (the compound) there?
(4 marks)
12.
What is the theoretical quantum yield for photosynthesis and how is it
estimated?
(5 marks)
13.
What is the efficiency of conversion of light to energy in conventional
solar cells?
(1 mark)
14.
What is the maximum energy conversion we can presently achieve with
electronic devices?
(1 mark)
15.
What is the name of the enzyme that fixes carbon dioxide during
photosynthesis?
(1 mark)
16.
What is remarkable about this enzyme?
(1 mark)
17.
What is a mole (not the furry, pointy nosed animal)?
(1 mark)
18.
Define the Einstein unit?
(1 mark)
19. What is Avogadro's number (please note it is NOT Avocado's
number as our students insist)?
(1 mark)
20.
Who was Avogadro and why did he get a unit named after him and
we didn't?
(1 mark)
21.
What physical constant is named after a brewer (hint - have a look at
your Weetabix packet) and where was his brewery?
(1 mark)
22.
Who was Becquerel and why did he get a unit named after him?
(1 mark)
23.
Why do I ask you this?
(2 marks)
24.
Now, we know the efficiency of life: what is the meaning of life?
(1 mark)