Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice Exam: The Chemistry of Life (A&P Chapter 2)

Test Bank: Structure & Function of the Body
(17th Edition) – Chapters 2 (2026) 50 questions



Block 1: Basic Chemistry & Matter (Questions 1–15)
1. The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element is the:
 A. Molecule
 B. Atom
 C. Proton
 D. Compound
2. Which subatomic particle carries a negative electrical charge?
 A. Proton
 B. Neutron
 C. Electron
 D. Nucleus
3. The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of ________ in its
nucleus.
4. True or False: Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but different
numbers of neutrons.
5. An atom that has gained or lost electrons and carries a charge is called a(n):
 A. Isotope
 B. Molecule
 C. Ion
 D. Element
6. Which of the following is an example of a trace element in the human body?
 A. Oxygen

,  B. Carbon
 C. Iron
 D. Nitrogen
7. A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another is
a(n):
 A. Covalent bond
 B. Ionic bond
 C. Hydrogen bond
 D. Peptide bond
8. The formula H2O represents a(n):
 A. Element
 B. Atom
 C. Compound
 D. Mixture
9. Which bond is responsible for the unique "surface tension" of water?
 A. Ionic
 B. Covalent
 C. Hydrogen
 D. Metallic
10. A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
is a(n): ________.
11. Explain the difference between a "cation" and an "anion."
12. In the expression CO2, the number '2' is known as a:
 A. Coefficient
 B. Subscript
 C. Atomic Mass
 D. Valence
13. Matter is defined as anything that has ______ and occupies ______.