Lecture 1 - Basic chemistry & biochemistry

Question 1

Which of the following best describes matter?

A) It has mass but does not take up space.
B) It takes up space and has mass.
C) It does not have mass but takes up space.
D) It neither takes up space nor has mass.

Answer 1

Answer: B) It takes up space and has mass.

Question 2

Which form of matter has a definite shape and volume?

A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma

Answer 2

Answer: A) Solid

Question 3

What is the energy of motion called?

A) Potential energy
B) Kinetic energy
C) Chemical energy
D) Radiant energy

Answer 3

Answer: B) Kinetic energy

Question 4

When energy changes form, what is always true?

A) It becomes more efficient.
B) It is created during the process.
C) Some energy is lost as heat.
D) It cannot change back.

Answer 4

Answer: C) Some energy is lost as heat.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a major element in the body?

A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Hydrogen
D) Sodium

Answer 5

Answer: D) Sodium

Question 6

Which subatomic particle weighs 1 amu?

A) Proton
B) Neutron
C) Electron
D) Both A and B

Answer 6

Answer: A) Proton

Question 7

The element that is part of the trace elements in the body is:

A) Oxygen
B) Hydrogen
C) Iron
D) Nitrogen

Answer 7

Answer: C) Iron

Question 8

What defines a compound?

A) Two or more atoms chemically bonded.
B) Two or more different atoms chemically bonded.
C) Two or more atoms physically mixed.
D) Atoms in the same element bonded together.

Answer 8

Answer: B) Two or more different atoms chemically bonded.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a basic type of mixture?

A) Solution
B) Colloid
C) Suspension
D) Compound

Answer 9

Answer: D) Compound

Question 10

In a solution, the substance present in the larger amount is called the:

A) Solute
B) Solvent
C) Colloid
D) Suspension

Answer 10

Answer: B) Solvent

Question 11

What happens to particles in a suspension?

A) They do not scatter light.
B) They settle out.
C) They are dissolved.
D) They remain evenly distributed.

Answer 11

Answer: B) They settle out and may scatter light

Question 12

Which of the following is the strongest type of chemical bond?

A) Ionic
B) Hydrogen
C) Covalent
D) Electrostatic

Answer 12

Answer: C) Covalent

Question 13

What is an ionic bond?

A) Sharing of electrons.
B) Loss or gain of electrons, creating charged atoms.
C) Weak bonds between molecules.
D) Attraction between opposite dipoles.

Answer 13

Answer: B) Loss or gain of electrons, creating charged atoms.

Question 14

Which of the following is true about a hydrogen bond?

A) It is the strongest type of bond.
B) It involves sharing electrons equally.
C) It occurs between polar molecules.
D) It forms between ions.

Answer 14

Answer: C) It occurs between polar molecules.

Question 15

Which rule explains the tendency of atoms to want eight electrons in their valence shell?

A) Quantum rule
B) Octet rule
C) Electron affinity rule
D) Pauli exclusion principle

Answer 15

Answer: B) Octet rule

Question 16

What type of reaction involves combining smaller molecules to form a larger one?

A) Synthesis
B) Decomposition
C) Displacement
D) Redox

Answer 16

Answer: A) Synthesis

Question 17

A reaction where a compound is broken down into smaller components is known as:

A) Synthesis
B) Decomposition
C) Displacement
D) Oxidation

Answer 17

Answer: B) Decomposition

Question 18

In a redox reaction, what happens?

A) Energy is released.
B) Electrons are exchanged.
C) Protons are gained or lost.
D) Molecules combine without exchanging electrons.

Answer 18

Answer: B) Electrons are exchanged.

Question 19

Which factor does NOT increase the rate of chemical reactions?

A) Increased temperature
B) Increased particle size
C) Higher concentration of reactants
D) Presence of a catalyst

Answer 19

Answer: B) Increased particle size.

Question 20

Exergonic reactions are characterized by:

A) Releasing energy
B) Absorbing energy
C) No energy change
D) Releasing potential energy

Answer 20

Answer: A) Releasing energy.

Question 21

Endergonic reactions result in:
A) Products having more potential energy than reactants.
B) Products having less potential energy than reactants.
C) Products and reactants having the same energy.
D) Releasing kinetic energy.

Answer 21

Answer: A) Products having more potential energy than reactants.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT an inorganic compound?

A) Water
B) Salts
C) Proteins
D) Acids

Answer 22

Answer: C) Proteins

Question 23

Organic compounds must contain:

A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Nitrogen
D) Sulfur

Answer 23

Answer: A) Carbon

Question 24

Which of the following is the most abundant inorganic compound in living cells?

A) Salt
B) Water
C) Phospholipids
D) Glucose

Answer 24

Answer: B) Water

Question 25

Water's ability to absorb and release large amounts of heat before changing temperature is called: A) High heat capacity B) High heat of vaporization C) Cohesion D) Polarity

Answer 25

Answer: A) High heat capacity

Question 26

The property of water that allows it to dissolve ionic and polar substances is called: A) Heat capacity B) Solubility C) Polar solvent properties D) Adhesion

Answer 26

Answer: C) Polar solvent properties

Question 27

Which of the following compounds dissociates into cations and anions when dissolved in water? A) Proteins B) Lipids C) Salts D) Carbohydrates

Answer 27

Answer: C) Salts

Question 28

Acids are considered proton: A) Donors B) Acceptors C) Neutrals D) Buffers

Answer 28

Answer: A) Donors

Question 29

Which of the following pH values represents an acidic solution? A) 8.0 B) 7.0 C) 6.0 D) 14.0

Answer 29

Answer: C) 6.0

Question 30

Buffers function to: A) Speed up chemical reactions B) Resist changes in pH C) Lower pH D) Increase temperature

Answer 30

Answer: B) Resist changes in pH

Question 31

Which of the following is a monosaccharide? A) Sucrose B) Lactose C) Glycogen D) Glucose

Answer 31

Answer: D) Glucose

Question 32

Polysaccharides are polymers made of: A) Fatty acids B) Amino acids C) Nucleotides D) Simple sugars

Answer 32

Answer: D) Simple sugars

Question 33

Which type of lipid is a major component of cell membranes? A) Triglycerides B) Phospholipids C) Steroids D) Eicosanoids

Answer 33

Answer: B) Phospholipids

Question 34

The most common type of neutral fat in the body is: A) Cholesterol B) Phospholipid C) Steroid D) Triglyceride

Answer 34

Answer: D) Triglyceride

Question 35

Which of the following is a steroid? A) Cholesterol B) Glycogen C) Glucose D) Phospholipid

Answer 35

Answer: A) Cholesterol

Question 36

Proteins are polymers composed of: A) Monosaccharides B) Fatty acids C) Amino acids D) Nucleotides

Answer 36

Answer: C) Amino acids

Question 37

The quaternary structure of a protein is formed by: A) Folding of the secondary structure B) Two or more polypeptide chains linked together C) A single polypeptide chain D) Hydrogen bonds between amino acids

Answer 37

Answer: B) Two or more polypeptide chains linked together

Question 38

What type of bond connects amino acids to form a protein? A) Ionic bond B) Peptide bond C) Hydrogen bond D) Disulfide bond

Answer 38

Answer: B) Peptide bond

Question 39

Enzymes act as: A) Structural components of cells B) Chemical messengers C) Biological catalysts D) Energy sources

Answer 39

Answer: C) Biological catalysts

Question 40

Enzymes work by: A) Increasing activation energy B) Lowering activation energy C) Adding energy to the reaction D) Consuming substrates

Answer 40

Answer: B) Lowering activation energy

Question 41

Enzyme names often end with the suffix: A) -ose B) -ine C) -ase D) -one

Answer 41

Answer: C) -ase

Question 42

The building blocks of nucleic acids are: A) Monosaccharides B) Fatty acids C) Nucleotides D) Amino acids

Answer 42

Answer: C) Nucleotides

Question 42

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is only found in RNA? A) Adenine B) Thymine C) Guanine D) Uracil

Answer 42

Answer: D) Uracil

Question 43

The primary function of DNA is to: A) Synthesize proteins directly B) Store and transfer genetic information C) Catalyze chemical reactions D) Regulate pH balance

Answer 43

Answer: B) Store and transfer genetic information

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a type of RNA? A) mRNA B) tRNA C) rRNA D) dRNA

Answer 44

Answer: D) dRNA

Question 45

Which molecule provides an immediate source of energy for cellular processes? A) Glucose B) DNA C) ATP D) NADH

Answer 45

Answer: C) ATP

Question 46

Energy is released from ATP when: A) A phosphate group is added B) ATP is converted to ADP and a phosphate group C) ATP is synthesized from ADP D) Two phosphate groups are removed

Answer 46

Answer: B) ATP is converted to ADP and a phosphate group