BSC 2010 EXAM 1 REVIEW SHEET CONTAINING
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Explain how water molecules dissociate.
Typically you have 2 water molecules that dissociate into a negatively charged hydroxide ion
(OH-) and a positively charged hydronium ion (H3O+).
2H2O <--> OH- + H3O+
A more simplified view of this dissociation goes like
H2O <--> OH- + H+
This dissociation and reformation greatly affects biochemistry. Changes in their concentrations
can greatly affect a cell's proteins and other complex molecules.
Water molecules disassociate when the oxygen does not make its usual two covalent bonds but
one or three. This happens in pure water.
List 8 characteristics of life as it is known on Earth.
Which of the following passes all 8 characteristics: a human, a bacterium, a virus, and a
fictional robot/android.
-Complex
-Regulated
-Responsive
-Grows
-Well adaptive
-Reproduce
-Use energy
-Carry instructions
Human and bacterium
List the organisms that are classified as prokaryotes and organisms that are classified as
eukaryotes, as shown on the evolutionary tree slide.
Prokaryotes:
-Domain Bacteria
-Domain Archaea
Eukaryotes:
-Kingdom Plantae
, -Kingdom Fungi
-Protists
-Kingdom Animalia
Define an atom.
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.
Define an element.
Any substance that cannot be broken down to any other substance by chemical reactions.
Define a compound.
A substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio.
Define a molecule.
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
Define an isotope.
One of several atomic forms of an element, each with the same number of protons but different
number neutrons thus differing in atomic mass.
Define an ion.
An atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, thus acquiring a charge.
About how many elements are required for life?
25 elements are essential for life.
What are the four most common elements in living things?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen
Makeup ~96%
Which seven elements are next most common?
Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphate, Chlorine, Calcium, and Sulfur.
Makeup ~4%
Why are the remaining elements referred to as "trace elements"?
Remaining elements are referred to as trace elements due to being required only in minute
quantities.
Compare and contrast the 3 main subatomic particles in terms of their location, mass, and
charge.
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Explain how water molecules dissociate.
Typically you have 2 water molecules that dissociate into a negatively charged hydroxide ion
(OH-) and a positively charged hydronium ion (H3O+).
2H2O <--> OH- + H3O+
A more simplified view of this dissociation goes like
H2O <--> OH- + H+
This dissociation and reformation greatly affects biochemistry. Changes in their concentrations
can greatly affect a cell's proteins and other complex molecules.
Water molecules disassociate when the oxygen does not make its usual two covalent bonds but
one or three. This happens in pure water.
List 8 characteristics of life as it is known on Earth.
Which of the following passes all 8 characteristics: a human, a bacterium, a virus, and a
fictional robot/android.
-Complex
-Regulated
-Responsive
-Grows
-Well adaptive
-Reproduce
-Use energy
-Carry instructions
Human and bacterium
List the organisms that are classified as prokaryotes and organisms that are classified as
eukaryotes, as shown on the evolutionary tree slide.
Prokaryotes:
-Domain Bacteria
-Domain Archaea
Eukaryotes:
-Kingdom Plantae
, -Kingdom Fungi
-Protists
-Kingdom Animalia
Define an atom.
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.
Define an element.
Any substance that cannot be broken down to any other substance by chemical reactions.
Define a compound.
A substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio.
Define a molecule.
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
Define an isotope.
One of several atomic forms of an element, each with the same number of protons but different
number neutrons thus differing in atomic mass.
Define an ion.
An atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, thus acquiring a charge.
About how many elements are required for life?
25 elements are essential for life.
What are the four most common elements in living things?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen
Makeup ~96%
Which seven elements are next most common?
Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphate, Chlorine, Calcium, and Sulfur.
Makeup ~4%
Why are the remaining elements referred to as "trace elements"?
Remaining elements are referred to as trace elements due to being required only in minute
quantities.
Compare and contrast the 3 main subatomic particles in terms of their location, mass, and
charge.
