Cambridge IGCSE™

* 9 9 3 0 9 6 6 5 4 4 *

COMBINED SCIENCE 0653/31

Paper 3 Theory (Core) May/June 2024

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 24 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (PB/SG) 331071/2
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1 (a) Fig. 1.1 is a diagram of the alimentary canal and associated organs in humans.

Fig. 1.1

(i) State the letter on Fig. 1.1 that identifies the position of:

a salivary gland ......................

the liver. .................................

[2]

(ii) Circle one function of the part labelled D in Fig. 1.1.

absorption egestion ingestion synthesis

[1]

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(b) Enzymes digest food in the human alimentary canal.

Fig. 1.2 shows the effect of temperature on the activity of two different enzymes.

X Y

enzyme
activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
temperature / °C

Fig. 1.2

(i) Identify the temperature where both enzyme X and enzyme Y have the same
enzyme activity.

Tick (✓) the correct box.

15 °C
40 °C
48 °C
55 °C
90 °C
[1]

(ii) The temperature of the human body is usually within the range 36.5 °C to 37.5 °C.

State why enzyme Y is not found in the human alimentary canal.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) (i) The boxes on the left show some types of biological molecules.

The boxes on the right show some tests used to identify biological molecules.

Draw one straight line from each biological molecule to its correct test.

biological
test
molecule

Benedict’s solution

starch

biuret

protein ethanol emulsion

iodine solution
[2]

(ii) State the name of the smaller molecules that large protein molecules are made from.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Starch is a carbohydrate.

List all the chemical elements that make up carbohydrates.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 9]

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2 The elements chlorine, bromine and iodine are diatomic covalent molecules.

(a) State the meaning of diatomic.

.................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Complete the dot-and-cross diagram in Fig. 2.1 to show the outer-shell electrons in a molecule
of chlorine, Cl 2.

Cl Cl

Fig. 2.1 [2]

(c) Chlorine reacts exothermically with sodium to form the ionic compound sodium chloride.

(i) State the meaning of exothermic.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe what happens to a sodium atom and to a chlorine atom when they react to form
the ionic compound sodium chloride.

Use ideas about electrons in your answer.

sodium atom ......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

chlorine atom .....................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) Describe the difference in volatility between ionic compounds and covalent compounds.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(d) Solid sodium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form aqueous sodium chloride,
carbon dioxide and one other product.

(i) Identify the solute and the solvent in aqueous sodium chloride.

solute .................................................................................................................................

solvent ...............................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Complete the word equation for this reaction.

sodium hydrochloric
+ + +
carbonate acid

[1]

(iii) The structure of sodium carbonate is shown in Fig. 2.2.

C
Na+ O– O– Na+
Fig. 2.2

Deduce the formula of sodium carbonate.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 11]

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3 Fig. 3.1 shows an aluminium pan containing water, being heated on a hotplate of a cooker.

There is a glass lid on the pan and a thermometer dips into the water.

glass lid
thermometer

water droplets on
underside of glass lid aluminium pan

hotplate of cooker

Fig. 3.1

(a) The thermometer reads 60 °C.

Water droplets can be seen condensing on the underside of the glass lid.

(i) State the process that forms water vapour at 60 °C.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the process that happens when the temperature of the water reaches 100 °C.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) (i) State the process that transfers thermal energy from the cooker to the water through the
aluminium pan.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Another pan on the cooker has the same shape but is made of glass.

The pan contains the same volume of water as the aluminium pan, has a lid and is
heated on an identical hotplate.

Explain why the water in the glass pan takes a longer time to reach 100 °C.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) A thermometer is placed in another pan of water.

Fig. 3.2 shows what an observer sees when viewing the pan from the side.

Fig. 3.2

State the property of light that makes the thermometer appear bent.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) A person reads the thermometer when it is reflected in a plane mirror.

Fig. 3.3 shows a ray of light from the thermometer reading to the mirror.
The normal at the mirror is also shown.

thermometer

mirror

Fig. 3.3

(i) On Fig. 3.3, complete the ray diagram to show the ray of light reflected by the mirror.

Draw an X in a correct place for an eye to see the reflection of the thermometer reading.
[2]

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(ii) The thermometer reading on the scale is 30 °C as shown in Fig. 3.4.

Complete the right-hand box in Fig. 3.4 to show the image of the reading as seen
reflected in the mirror.

30

Fig. 3.4
[1]

(e) Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

State one part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a higher frequency than visible light.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(f) Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

State one use of microwaves.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 10]

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4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows the pathway taken by water through a plant root.

xylem in the stem

leading to the leaf

soil particle water

Q
root hair cell

NOT TO
Key SCALE
direction of movement of water

Fig. 4.1

(i) State the name of the type of cells labelled Q in Fig. 4.1.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) On Fig. 4.1, draw a label line and the letter V to identify one vacuole. [1]

(iii) Complete the sentences to describe the pathway taken by water through the leaf.

Choose words from the list.

Each word may be used only once.

diffusion evaporation osmosis

transmission transpiration

Water moves from the xylem to the air spaces in the leaf by

……………………………………………… from the surface of mesophyll cells.

The water vapour then passes out of the stomata by the process of

……………………………………………… .

This loss of water vapour from the leaves is called

……………………………………………… .
[3]

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(b) Fig. 4.2 shows a plant reproducing asexually.

parent plant

offspring

Fig. 4.2

Tick (✓) two correct statements about the plants shown in Fig. 4.2.

The offspring are genetically identical to the parent plant.

The offspring developed from germinating seeds.

The parent plant needed flowers to produce the offspring.

Fertilisation did not take place to produce the offspring.

The parent plant has been pollinated to produce the offspring.

[2]
(c) (i) Explain why plants are classified as producers in a food chain.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Fig. 4.3 shows a food chain.

Circle the primary consumer in Fig. 4.3.

Fig. 4.3
[1]
[Total: 10]
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5 Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons.

Fig. 5.1 shows the process that separates petroleum into hydrocarbons and another process,
process B.

refinery gas

process B

ethene

strong heat

petroleum

fraction A

Fig. 5.1

(a) (i) Circle the name of the process that separates petroleum into hydrocarbons.

chromatography crystallisation filtration fractional distillation

[1]

(ii) State one use for refinery gas.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) State one use for fraction A.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Process B produces the unsaturated hydrocarbon ethene.

(i) State the name of process B.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain why ethene is described as unsaturated and as a hydrocarbon.

unsaturated .......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

hydrocarbon ......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

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(iii) Describe a chemical test for unsaturated hydrocarbons.

State the observation for a positive result.

test ....................................................................................................................................

observation ........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iv) State the type of chemical reaction that converts ethene monomer units to poly(ethene).

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Petroleum is one example of a fossil fuel.

Another fossil fuel has a greenhouse gas as its main constituent.

State the name of this other fossil fuel.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 10]

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6 Fig. 6.1 shows a mechanical crane using force P to lift a box from the ground to the top of a
building.

crane

building

box

Fig. 6.1

(a) (i) The box weighs 15 000 N.

Calculate the mass of the box.

The gravitational force on unit mass is 10 N / kg.

mass = .................................................... kg [2]

(ii) The box has a volume of 2.0 m3.

Use your answer to (a)(i) to calculate the density of the box.

density = .............................................. kg / m3 [2]

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(b) When the box is on the ground, the crane applies force P of 16 000 N to the box.

Describe what happens to the box when this force is applied.

Use ideas about motion in your answer.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) The building is 56 m tall. The crane lifts the box at an average speed of 0.28 m / s.

(i) Calculate the time taken to lift the box from the ground to the top of the building.

time = ...................................................... s [2]

(ii) The box gains 825 000 J of gravitational potential energy (GPE) when it is lifted to the top
of the building.

The crane lifts a second box of the same weight to the top of the building at an average
speed of 0.50 m / s.

State whether the second box gains more, less or the same gravitational potential energy
(GPE) as the first box.

Explain your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]

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7 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows part of the human circulatory system.

lungs

heart

Fig. 7.1

(i) The arrows show the direction of blood flow in the circulatory system.

Identify the blood vessel labelled R in Fig. 7.1.

Circle the correct answer.

aorta pulmonary artery pulmonary vein vena cava

[1]

(ii) State the function of valves in the circulatory system.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(b) The pulse rate of a student is measured at rest and during different types of physical activity.

Table 7.1 shows the results.

Table 7.1

pulse rate
physical activity
/ beats per minute
rest 70
slow walking 112
fast walking 126
running 135

(i) Calculate the percentage increase in pulse rate between rest and slow walking.

percentage increase ………………….. [2]

(ii) Exercise requires increased muscle contraction.

Explain why muscles need more oxygen during exercise.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Humans also have a reproductive system.

State the name of the part of the human reproductive system that produces sperm and the
part that produces eggs.

sperm ........................................................................................................................................

eggs ..........................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total: 8]

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8 (a) Solid zinc and dilute sulfuric acid react to form zinc sulfate and hydrogen gas.

Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2

(i) A student measures and controls the temperature, the volume and the concentration of
the acid.

State two other measurements that the student needs to make to investigate the rate of
this reaction.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Describe what happens to the pH number of the reaction mixture during the reaction.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Dilute sulfuric acid is electrolysed using the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.1.

low voltage
d.c. power supply
negative positive
electrode electrode

dilute sulfuric acid

Fig. 8.1

(i) State the name of the negative electrode.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Identify the product that forms at the positive electrode.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 5]

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9 Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit with components labelled E, F, G, H and J.

J V H A F

Fig. 9.1

(a) State the letter of the component that:

(i) is the energy source for the circuit. ............................................................................. [1]

(ii) is connected in parallel with another component. ....................................................... [1]

(iii) measures the current in the circuit. ............................................................................. [1]

(iv) can be used to vary the current in the circuit. ............................................................. [1]

(b) The potential difference across the battery is 3.0 V. The current in the circuit is 0.6 A.

Calculate the total resistance in the circuit.

Give the unit of your answer.

resistance = .................................. unit ............... [3]

[Total: 7]

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Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2024 0653/31/M/J/24

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group

© UCLES 2024
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2

H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
24

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

0653/31/M/J/24
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).