AAMC MCAT FINAL EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Henderson-Hasselbalch equation - ✔✔pH = pka + log [base]/[acid]
pOH = pkb+ log [acid]/[base]
✔✔C/P: What is the concentration of Ca2+(aq) in a saturated solution of CaCO3?
(Note: The solubility product constant Ksp for CaCO3 is 4.9 × 10-9.)
Ca2+(aq) + 2HCO3-(aq) --> CaCO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
A) 2.4 × 10-4 M
B) 4.9 × 10-5 M
C) 7.0 × 10-5 M
D) 4.9 × 10-9 M - ✔✔C) 7.0 × 10-5 M
The answer to this question is C. The solubility product constant expression for CaCO3
is Ksp = [Ca2+][CO32-]. Since equal quantities of Ca2+(aq) and CO32-(aq) are
produced when CaCO3 dissolves, this expression reduces to 4.9 × 10-9 = x2, or 49 ×
10-10 = x2. This can be solved directly by taking the square root of each side.
✔✔C/P: An inflatable cuff was used to temporarily stop blood flow in an upper arm
artery. While releasing the pressure to deflate the cuff, a stethoscope was used to listen
to blood flow in the forearm. The blood pressure reading was 130/85. Given this
information, which of the following statements is LEAST likely to be true?
A) 85 mmHg was the diastolic pressure.
B) Blood flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater than 130 mmHg.
C) 130 mmHg was the systolic pressure.
D) Blood flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was 90 mmHg. - ✔✔B) Blood
flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater than 130 mmHg.
The answer to this question is B because the question indicates that the cuff was
inflated to temporarily stop blood flow in the artery. The systolic pressure is determined
from the first sound of blood flow that can be heard once the pressure exerted by the
inflatable cuff falls below the pressure in the artery. The blood pressure reading was
130/85, which indicates that blood flow started again when the pressure was 130
mmHg. Therefore, blood flow was not heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater
than 130 mmHg. A is not the correct response because the lower number of the blood
pressure reading represents the diastolic pressure. C is not the correct response
because the higher number of the blood pressure reading represents the systolic
pressure. D is not the correct response because blood flow would be heard when the
pressure of the cuff is 90 mmHg, as this pressure is higher than the diastolic pressure.
,✔✔C/P: Which statement correctly describes the structure of the DNA double helix?
A) Nitrogenous bases pair with other bases in the same purine or pyrimidine groups.
B) The two DNA strands of the double helix are oriented in the same direction.
C) The amount of guanine will equal the amount of cytosine in a DNA sequence.
D) Sugar-phosphate backbones form the interior of the double helix. - ✔✔C) The
amount of guanine will equal the amount of cytosine in a DNA sequence.
The answer to this question is C because as guanine and cytosine form base pairs on
opposite DNA strands, they will occur in equal amounts within a specific DNA
sequence. A is incorrect because purines and pyrimidines do not form base pairs with
other members within the same group. B is incorrect because the strands are
antiparallel, meaning that they are oriented in opposite directions. D is incorrect
because sugar-phosphate backbones form the exterior of the double helix.
✔✔C/P: A glass rod is rubbed with a silk scarf producing a charge of +3.2 × 10-9 C on
the rod. (Recall that the magnitude of the proton and electron charges is 1.6 × 10-19 C.)
The glass rod has:
A.5.1 × 1011 protons added to it.
B.5.1 × 1011 electrons removed from it.
C.2.0 × 1010 protons added to it.
D.2.0 × 1010 electrons removed from it. - ✔✔D.2.0 × 1010 electrons removed from it.
The answer to this question is D because the number of charges in excess can be
computed as +3.2 × 10 -9 C/1.6 × 10 -19 C = +2.0 × 10 10. This means that the rod has
an excess of positive charge, created by removing a number of +2.0 × 10 10 electrons
from the material, as it is not possible to add protons in a manner described in this
question.
✔✔C/P: Which single bond present in nitroglycerin is most likely the shortest?
"The average bond energies in kJ/mol of the C-H, C-O, C-C, and O-N single bonds
present in nitroglycerin are 413, 358, 347, and 201, respectively."
A) C-H
B) C-O
C) C-C
D) O-N - ✔✔A) C-H
The answer to this question is A. All of the bonds listed are single bonds. Since
hydrogen has a much smaller atomic radius than second period elements, the covalent
bond between C and H is shorter than any of the other bonds listed.
✔✔C/P: Based on the passage, the magnitude of ΔH° (in kJ) for the decomposition of 2
moles of nitroglycerin at 25°C is closest to which of the following?
A) 500
,B) 1000
C) 2000
D) 3000 - ✔✔D) 3000
The answer to this question is D. The value of ΔH° can be calculated using the data
provided in Table 1 and applying Hess's Law. Two moles of nitroglycerin produce 6
moles of CO2(g) and 5 moles of H2O(g). The value of ΔH° for this amount of
nitroglycerin combusted is 2(364.0) - 6(393.5) - 5(241.8) = -2842 kJ/mol.
✔✔C/P: At STP, the volume of N2(g) produced by the complete decomposition of 1
mole of nitroglycerin would be closest to which of the following?
4C3H5N3O9(l) → 12CO2(g) + 10H2O(g) + 6N2(g) + O2(g)
A) 5 L
B) 10 L
C) 20 L
D) 30 L - ✔✔D) 30 L
The answer to this question is D. Based on the balanced equation provided, 4 moles of
nitroglycerin produce 6 moles of N2(g). Therefore, 1 mole of nitroglycerin will produce
1.5 moles of N2(g). At STP 1.5 moles of N2(g) will occupy 33.6 L since the molar
volume of an ideal gas at STP is 22.4 L/mol.
✔✔C/P Which single bond present in nitroglycerin is the LEAST polar?
A) C-H
B) C-O
C) C-C
D) O-N - ✔✔C) C-C
The answer to this question is C because bonds between identical atoms are likely to
be the least polar. This is true in this case since each C atom is bonded to one nitro
group only.
✔✔C/P: What is the average power consumed by a 64-year-old woman during the
ascent of the 15-cm-high steps, if her mass is 54 kg?
Time to climb up 30 steps (s): 27
A) 10 W
B) 20 W
C) 40 W
D) 90 W - ✔✔D) 90 W
, The answer to this question is D because the power consumed is P=PE /time = mgh/t.
From Table 1, there are 30 steps and t = 27 s. Then P = (54 kg × 10 m/s2 × 30 steps ×
0.15 m/step) / (27s) = 90 W.
✔✔C/P: How much work did an 83-year-old female do while stretching the rubber band
to the limit of her strength?
Maximum stretching of an elastic band (cm): 20
The volunteers stretched an elastic band whose elastic constant is k = 200 N/m
A) 4 J
B) 5 J
C) 6 J
D) 7 J - ✔✔A) 4 J
The answer to this question is A because the work done is W = 0.5 × kx2 where x =
0.20 m. So W = 0.5 × 200 (N/m) × (0.2 m)2 = 4.0 J.
✔✔Spring potential energy - ✔✔E = 1/2kx^2
✔✔C/P: What kind of image is formed by the lenses of the glasses worn by a 68-year-
old male who sees an object 2 m away?
Focal length of glasses worn (cm): -50
A) Real and enlarged
B) Real and reduced
C) Virtual and enlarged
D) Virtual and reduced - ✔✔D) Virtual and reduced
The answer to this question is D because the lenses have a negative focal length which
means they are diverging lenses. Such lenses form virtual and reduced images of
objects situated at distances larger than the focal length.
✔✔C/P: What is the ratio of the minimum sound intensities heard by a 64-year-old male
and a 74-year-old female?
64 year-old male minimum sound intensity: 20 dB
74 year-old female minimum sound intensity: 40 dB
A) 20
B) 40
C) 50
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Henderson-Hasselbalch equation - ✔✔pH = pka + log [base]/[acid]
pOH = pkb+ log [acid]/[base]
✔✔C/P: What is the concentration of Ca2+(aq) in a saturated solution of CaCO3?
(Note: The solubility product constant Ksp for CaCO3 is 4.9 × 10-9.)
Ca2+(aq) + 2HCO3-(aq) --> CaCO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
A) 2.4 × 10-4 M
B) 4.9 × 10-5 M
C) 7.0 × 10-5 M
D) 4.9 × 10-9 M - ✔✔C) 7.0 × 10-5 M
The answer to this question is C. The solubility product constant expression for CaCO3
is Ksp = [Ca2+][CO32-]. Since equal quantities of Ca2+(aq) and CO32-(aq) are
produced when CaCO3 dissolves, this expression reduces to 4.9 × 10-9 = x2, or 49 ×
10-10 = x2. This can be solved directly by taking the square root of each side.
✔✔C/P: An inflatable cuff was used to temporarily stop blood flow in an upper arm
artery. While releasing the pressure to deflate the cuff, a stethoscope was used to listen
to blood flow in the forearm. The blood pressure reading was 130/85. Given this
information, which of the following statements is LEAST likely to be true?
A) 85 mmHg was the diastolic pressure.
B) Blood flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater than 130 mmHg.
C) 130 mmHg was the systolic pressure.
D) Blood flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was 90 mmHg. - ✔✔B) Blood
flow was heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater than 130 mmHg.
The answer to this question is B because the question indicates that the cuff was
inflated to temporarily stop blood flow in the artery. The systolic pressure is determined
from the first sound of blood flow that can be heard once the pressure exerted by the
inflatable cuff falls below the pressure in the artery. The blood pressure reading was
130/85, which indicates that blood flow started again when the pressure was 130
mmHg. Therefore, blood flow was not heard when the pressure of the cuff was greater
than 130 mmHg. A is not the correct response because the lower number of the blood
pressure reading represents the diastolic pressure. C is not the correct response
because the higher number of the blood pressure reading represents the systolic
pressure. D is not the correct response because blood flow would be heard when the
pressure of the cuff is 90 mmHg, as this pressure is higher than the diastolic pressure.
,✔✔C/P: Which statement correctly describes the structure of the DNA double helix?
A) Nitrogenous bases pair with other bases in the same purine or pyrimidine groups.
B) The two DNA strands of the double helix are oriented in the same direction.
C) The amount of guanine will equal the amount of cytosine in a DNA sequence.
D) Sugar-phosphate backbones form the interior of the double helix. - ✔✔C) The
amount of guanine will equal the amount of cytosine in a DNA sequence.
The answer to this question is C because as guanine and cytosine form base pairs on
opposite DNA strands, they will occur in equal amounts within a specific DNA
sequence. A is incorrect because purines and pyrimidines do not form base pairs with
other members within the same group. B is incorrect because the strands are
antiparallel, meaning that they are oriented in opposite directions. D is incorrect
because sugar-phosphate backbones form the exterior of the double helix.
✔✔C/P: A glass rod is rubbed with a silk scarf producing a charge of +3.2 × 10-9 C on
the rod. (Recall that the magnitude of the proton and electron charges is 1.6 × 10-19 C.)
The glass rod has:
A.5.1 × 1011 protons added to it.
B.5.1 × 1011 electrons removed from it.
C.2.0 × 1010 protons added to it.
D.2.0 × 1010 electrons removed from it. - ✔✔D.2.0 × 1010 electrons removed from it.
The answer to this question is D because the number of charges in excess can be
computed as +3.2 × 10 -9 C/1.6 × 10 -19 C = +2.0 × 10 10. This means that the rod has
an excess of positive charge, created by removing a number of +2.0 × 10 10 electrons
from the material, as it is not possible to add protons in a manner described in this
question.
✔✔C/P: Which single bond present in nitroglycerin is most likely the shortest?
"The average bond energies in kJ/mol of the C-H, C-O, C-C, and O-N single bonds
present in nitroglycerin are 413, 358, 347, and 201, respectively."
A) C-H
B) C-O
C) C-C
D) O-N - ✔✔A) C-H
The answer to this question is A. All of the bonds listed are single bonds. Since
hydrogen has a much smaller atomic radius than second period elements, the covalent
bond between C and H is shorter than any of the other bonds listed.
✔✔C/P: Based on the passage, the magnitude of ΔH° (in kJ) for the decomposition of 2
moles of nitroglycerin at 25°C is closest to which of the following?
A) 500
,B) 1000
C) 2000
D) 3000 - ✔✔D) 3000
The answer to this question is D. The value of ΔH° can be calculated using the data
provided in Table 1 and applying Hess's Law. Two moles of nitroglycerin produce 6
moles of CO2(g) and 5 moles of H2O(g). The value of ΔH° for this amount of
nitroglycerin combusted is 2(364.0) - 6(393.5) - 5(241.8) = -2842 kJ/mol.
✔✔C/P: At STP, the volume of N2(g) produced by the complete decomposition of 1
mole of nitroglycerin would be closest to which of the following?
4C3H5N3O9(l) → 12CO2(g) + 10H2O(g) + 6N2(g) + O2(g)
A) 5 L
B) 10 L
C) 20 L
D) 30 L - ✔✔D) 30 L
The answer to this question is D. Based on the balanced equation provided, 4 moles of
nitroglycerin produce 6 moles of N2(g). Therefore, 1 mole of nitroglycerin will produce
1.5 moles of N2(g). At STP 1.5 moles of N2(g) will occupy 33.6 L since the molar
volume of an ideal gas at STP is 22.4 L/mol.
✔✔C/P Which single bond present in nitroglycerin is the LEAST polar?
A) C-H
B) C-O
C) C-C
D) O-N - ✔✔C) C-C
The answer to this question is C because bonds between identical atoms are likely to
be the least polar. This is true in this case since each C atom is bonded to one nitro
group only.
✔✔C/P: What is the average power consumed by a 64-year-old woman during the
ascent of the 15-cm-high steps, if her mass is 54 kg?
Time to climb up 30 steps (s): 27
A) 10 W
B) 20 W
C) 40 W
D) 90 W - ✔✔D) 90 W
, The answer to this question is D because the power consumed is P=PE /time = mgh/t.
From Table 1, there are 30 steps and t = 27 s. Then P = (54 kg × 10 m/s2 × 30 steps ×
0.15 m/step) / (27s) = 90 W.
✔✔C/P: How much work did an 83-year-old female do while stretching the rubber band
to the limit of her strength?
Maximum stretching of an elastic band (cm): 20
The volunteers stretched an elastic band whose elastic constant is k = 200 N/m
A) 4 J
B) 5 J
C) 6 J
D) 7 J - ✔✔A) 4 J
The answer to this question is A because the work done is W = 0.5 × kx2 where x =
0.20 m. So W = 0.5 × 200 (N/m) × (0.2 m)2 = 4.0 J.
✔✔Spring potential energy - ✔✔E = 1/2kx^2
✔✔C/P: What kind of image is formed by the lenses of the glasses worn by a 68-year-
old male who sees an object 2 m away?
Focal length of glasses worn (cm): -50
A) Real and enlarged
B) Real and reduced
C) Virtual and enlarged
D) Virtual and reduced - ✔✔D) Virtual and reduced
The answer to this question is D because the lenses have a negative focal length which
means they are diverging lenses. Such lenses form virtual and reduced images of
objects situated at distances larger than the focal length.
✔✔C/P: What is the ratio of the minimum sound intensities heard by a 64-year-old male
and a 74-year-old female?
64 year-old male minimum sound intensity: 20 dB
74 year-old female minimum sound intensity: 40 dB
A) 20
B) 40
C) 50
