Rutgers Introduction to Biochemistry Exam | Latest Update
2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers | Complete
Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
1. Which will show the greater degree of dissociation: formic acid (pKa = 3.75) or acetic acid (pKa = 4.76)
if dissolved in water at 0.1 M concentrations?
A. Formic acid
B. Acetic acid
C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated
D. Cannot tell from data given
Answer: A. Formic acid. The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater the degree of
dissociation. Formic acid (pKa 3.75) is a stronger acid than acetic acid (pKa 4.76).
2. Which will show the greater degree of dissociation: formic acid (pKa = 3.75) or acetic acid (pKa = 4.76)
if dissolved at 0.1 M concentrations in solutions whose pH is 11.0?
A. Formic acid
B. Acetic acid
C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated
D. Cannot tell from data given
Answer: C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated. At pH 11.0, both acids
are far above their pKa values and will be completely dissociated.
3. Which experimental observation disproved the vitalist claim that the substances of which living
matter is composed are qualitatively different from those which compose the nonliving world?
,A. The demonstration by the Buchner brothers that broken yeast cells could convert sugar into ethanol
B. The crystallization by Sumner of the enzyme urease
C. Pasteur's proof that living organisms arise only from other living organisms
D. Wöhler's synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate
E. None of the above
Answer: D. Wöhler's synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate. Wöhler's synthesis of urea, an organic
compound, from inorganic ammonium cyanate demonstrated that organic compounds could be made
from inorganic materials, disproving vitalism.
4. A biochemical reaction will proceed in the direction as written if:
A. ΔG < 0
B. ΔH < 0
C. ΔG > 0
D. ΔG = zero
E. ΔH > 0
Answer: A. ΔG < 0. A negative change in free energy (ΔG) indicates that a reaction is thermodynamically
favorable and will proceed spontaneously in the direction written.
5. Determine the pKa for a solution containing [0.035] A⁻ and [0.1] HA. The pH of the solution is 6.00.
A. 4.10
B. 4.30
C. 5.42
D. 6.46
E. 6.64
,Answer: D. 6.46. Using the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation: pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA]). 6.00 = pKa +
log(0.035/0.1) = pKa + log(0.35) = pKa 0.456. Therefore, pKa = 6.46.
6. The following molecule is an example of which class of compounds? CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH
A. Hydrocarbon
B. Acid
C. Alcohol
D. Aldehyde
E. Ketone
Answer: B. Acid. The molecule contains a carboxyl group (COOH), characteristic of carboxylic acids.
7. A thermodynamically unfavorable reaction can become favorable when coupled to a highly
endergonic reaction.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B. False. A thermodynamically unfavorable reaction (endergonic, ΔG > 0) can become favorable
when coupled to a highly exergonic reaction (ΔG < 0), not an endergonic one.
8. Determine the pH of an aqueous solution that contains [OH⁻] of 2.5 × 10⁻⁴.
A. 9.7
B. 10.4
, C. 10.8
D. 8.4
E. 7.4
Answer: B. 10.4. pOH = log[OH⁻] = log(2.5 × 10⁻⁴) = 3.60. pH = 14 pOH = 14 3.60 = 10.4.
9. Which of the following is not an example of a macromolecule?
A. Nucleic acid
B. Protein
C. Polysaccharide
D. Enzyme
E. Amino acid
Answer: E. Amino acid. Amino acids are monomers, not macromolecules. Nucleic acids, proteins, and
polysaccharides are macromolecules; enzymes are proteins.
10. The macromolecules that serve in the storage and transmission of genetic information are:
A. Carbohydrates
B. Lipids
C. Membranes
D. Nucleic acids
E. Proteins
Answer: D. Nucleic acids. DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information.
2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers | Complete
Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
1. Which will show the greater degree of dissociation: formic acid (pKa = 3.75) or acetic acid (pKa = 4.76)
if dissolved in water at 0.1 M concentrations?
A. Formic acid
B. Acetic acid
C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated
D. Cannot tell from data given
Answer: A. Formic acid. The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater the degree of
dissociation. Formic acid (pKa 3.75) is a stronger acid than acetic acid (pKa 4.76).
2. Which will show the greater degree of dissociation: formic acid (pKa = 3.75) or acetic acid (pKa = 4.76)
if dissolved at 0.1 M concentrations in solutions whose pH is 11.0?
A. Formic acid
B. Acetic acid
C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated
D. Cannot tell from data given
Answer: C. Within the accuracy of measurement, they will be equally dissociated. At pH 11.0, both acids
are far above their pKa values and will be completely dissociated.
3. Which experimental observation disproved the vitalist claim that the substances of which living
matter is composed are qualitatively different from those which compose the nonliving world?
,A. The demonstration by the Buchner brothers that broken yeast cells could convert sugar into ethanol
B. The crystallization by Sumner of the enzyme urease
C. Pasteur's proof that living organisms arise only from other living organisms
D. Wöhler's synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate
E. None of the above
Answer: D. Wöhler's synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate. Wöhler's synthesis of urea, an organic
compound, from inorganic ammonium cyanate demonstrated that organic compounds could be made
from inorganic materials, disproving vitalism.
4. A biochemical reaction will proceed in the direction as written if:
A. ΔG < 0
B. ΔH < 0
C. ΔG > 0
D. ΔG = zero
E. ΔH > 0
Answer: A. ΔG < 0. A negative change in free energy (ΔG) indicates that a reaction is thermodynamically
favorable and will proceed spontaneously in the direction written.
5. Determine the pKa for a solution containing [0.035] A⁻ and [0.1] HA. The pH of the solution is 6.00.
A. 4.10
B. 4.30
C. 5.42
D. 6.46
E. 6.64
,Answer: D. 6.46. Using the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation: pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA]). 6.00 = pKa +
log(0.035/0.1) = pKa + log(0.35) = pKa 0.456. Therefore, pKa = 6.46.
6. The following molecule is an example of which class of compounds? CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH
A. Hydrocarbon
B. Acid
C. Alcohol
D. Aldehyde
E. Ketone
Answer: B. Acid. The molecule contains a carboxyl group (COOH), characteristic of carboxylic acids.
7. A thermodynamically unfavorable reaction can become favorable when coupled to a highly
endergonic reaction.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B. False. A thermodynamically unfavorable reaction (endergonic, ΔG > 0) can become favorable
when coupled to a highly exergonic reaction (ΔG < 0), not an endergonic one.
8. Determine the pH of an aqueous solution that contains [OH⁻] of 2.5 × 10⁻⁴.
A. 9.7
B. 10.4
, C. 10.8
D. 8.4
E. 7.4
Answer: B. 10.4. pOH = log[OH⁻] = log(2.5 × 10⁻⁴) = 3.60. pH = 14 pOH = 14 3.60 = 10.4.
9. Which of the following is not an example of a macromolecule?
A. Nucleic acid
B. Protein
C. Polysaccharide
D. Enzyme
E. Amino acid
Answer: E. Amino acid. Amino acids are monomers, not macromolecules. Nucleic acids, proteins, and
polysaccharides are macromolecules; enzymes are proteins.
10. The macromolecules that serve in the storage and transmission of genetic information are:
A. Carbohydrates
B. Lipids
C. Membranes
D. Nucleic acids
E. Proteins
Answer: D. Nucleic acids. DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information.
