BCH 2333 Final Exam Material Questions and
Correct Answers
Origin of life (Oparin-Haldane)
Life arose from organic molecules formed in a "primordial soup" in early oceans
Hydrothermal vent theory
Life originated near deep-sea vents using chemical energy gradients
Modern combined theory
Life likely arose from both ocean chemistry and hydrothermal systems
Early atmosphere composition
Reducing; rich in CH4, NH3, H2, H2O vapor
Current atmosphere composition
Oxidizing; rich in O2 and N2
Miller-Urey experiment (classic)
Simulated early Earth → produced amino acids
Miller-Urey (modern update)
Showed broader organic molecule formation under varied conditions
Glass catalyst paper
Mineral surfaces catalyze formation of complex biomolecules
Chemical evolution
,Simple → complex molecules via gradual reactions
Importance of pH in origin of life
Affects stability and reactivity of molecules
Monomer vs polymer
Monomers are building blocks; polymers are long chains
Supramolecular structures
Large assemblies formed by non-covalent interactions
Levels of organization
Atom → molecule → macromolecule → cell → organism
Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotes lack nucleus; eukaryotes have organelles
1st law of thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
2nd law of thermodynamics
Entropy of universe increases
Entropy (S)
Measure of disorder
Enthalpy (H)
, Heat content of system
Gibbs free energy equation
ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
Exergonic reaction
ΔG < 0, spontaneous
Endergonic reaction
ΔG > 0, non-spontaneous
If ΔH negative and ΔS positive
Always spontaneous
If ΔH positive and ΔS negative
Never spontaneous
Boltzmann equation
S = k ln W
Microstates (W)
Number of possible arrangements
Higher W →
More entropy
Weakest to strongest interactions
Correct Answers
Origin of life (Oparin-Haldane)
Life arose from organic molecules formed in a "primordial soup" in early oceans
Hydrothermal vent theory
Life originated near deep-sea vents using chemical energy gradients
Modern combined theory
Life likely arose from both ocean chemistry and hydrothermal systems
Early atmosphere composition
Reducing; rich in CH4, NH3, H2, H2O vapor
Current atmosphere composition
Oxidizing; rich in O2 and N2
Miller-Urey experiment (classic)
Simulated early Earth → produced amino acids
Miller-Urey (modern update)
Showed broader organic molecule formation under varied conditions
Glass catalyst paper
Mineral surfaces catalyze formation of complex biomolecules
Chemical evolution
,Simple → complex molecules via gradual reactions
Importance of pH in origin of life
Affects stability and reactivity of molecules
Monomer vs polymer
Monomers are building blocks; polymers are long chains
Supramolecular structures
Large assemblies formed by non-covalent interactions
Levels of organization
Atom → molecule → macromolecule → cell → organism
Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotes lack nucleus; eukaryotes have organelles
1st law of thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
2nd law of thermodynamics
Entropy of universe increases
Entropy (S)
Measure of disorder
Enthalpy (H)
, Heat content of system
Gibbs free energy equation
ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
Exergonic reaction
ΔG < 0, spontaneous
Endergonic reaction
ΔG > 0, non-spontaneous
If ΔH negative and ΔS positive
Always spontaneous
If ΔH positive and ΔS negative
Never spontaneous
Boltzmann equation
S = k ln W
Microstates (W)
Number of possible arrangements
Higher W →
More entropy
Weakest to strongest interactions
