Portage BIOD 101 Module 1 Problem Set | Questions with
100% Verified Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: What is matter, and what states can it exist in?
Answer: Matter is anything that takes up space, by having a volume, and has mass. Matter can
exist in a solid, liquid, gaseous, or plasma state. All matter is made up of certain basic
substances called elements.
Question: Explain the difference between essential and trace elements.
Answer: Essential elements are required for human life. Trace elements are required only in
small
quantities.
Question: Ionic Bond
Answer: Generated based on the attraction between oppositely charged particles.
Question: Covalent Bond
Answer: Occurs when electrons are shared by two atoms to complete the valence shells of
both.
Question: Hydrogen Bonds
Answer: Forms a relatively weak bond that is easily broken.
Question: Cations are _____ charged ions, and anions are _____ charged
ions.
Answer: positively; negatively
Question: Which of the following are not one of the organic compounds
that make up biomacromolecules?
-lipids
-proteins
-ribosomes
-carbohydrates
Answer: Ribosomes
Question: What are carbohydrates?
Answer: commonly referred to as sugars, the primary source of fuel for organisms.
Question: The three elements in carbohydrates main structure
Answer: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Question: Why are lipids unique among the biomacromolecules?
Answer: because most of them are insoluble in water, they are not monomers but are
assembled
from smaller molecules that are chemically linked together.
, Question: Why are lipids insoluble in water?
Answer: because they are made mostly of non-polar hydrocarbon chains. water will only
dissolve
other polar or ionically bonded substances. but they can be dissolved with nonpolar
solvents such as alcohol.
Question: Name the functions of proteins as mentioned in the molecule.
Answer: (1) act as enzymes and regulate metabolic functions, (2) store amino acids, (3) act as
hormones, (4) form antibodies for immunological defense, (5) act as carriers for transport
and also form membrane channels, (6) form cell surface receptors to receive chemical
messages, and (7) act as structural molecules for support and movement.
Question: Describe how the shape of a protein is related to its function.
Answer: Proteins can be assembled into a variety of shapes which allows them to serve a
variety
of functions. Some functions of proteins are to make many needed protective tissues
such as skin, hair, and fingernails. Proteins also form enzymes (catalysts that speed up
chemical reactions) and are used to make needed substances such as hemoglobin, which
carries oxygen in red blood cells
Question: What are the roles of the two major types of nucleic acids?
Answer: DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the
inheritable characteristics of living organisms.
RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to
synthesize proteins.
Question: The foundational building blocks of protein are the organic
compounds:
Answer: Amino Acids
Question: Amino Acids are held together by what bonds?
Answer: Peptides
Question: Describe the structure of DNA and RNA.
Answer: DNA and RNA exist as chains of nucleotides. The five-carbon sugar of one nucleotide
is
linked to the phosphate of the next nucleotide, while a nitrogenous base protrudes form
each sugar in the string.
RNA is a single chain of nucleotides. DNA is a double chain of nucleotides held together
by hydrogen bonds between protruding bases.
DNA nucleotides contain one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or
thymine).
RNA nucleotides contain one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or
uracil).
100% Verified Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: What is matter, and what states can it exist in?
Answer: Matter is anything that takes up space, by having a volume, and has mass. Matter can
exist in a solid, liquid, gaseous, or plasma state. All matter is made up of certain basic
substances called elements.
Question: Explain the difference between essential and trace elements.
Answer: Essential elements are required for human life. Trace elements are required only in
small
quantities.
Question: Ionic Bond
Answer: Generated based on the attraction between oppositely charged particles.
Question: Covalent Bond
Answer: Occurs when electrons are shared by two atoms to complete the valence shells of
both.
Question: Hydrogen Bonds
Answer: Forms a relatively weak bond that is easily broken.
Question: Cations are _____ charged ions, and anions are _____ charged
ions.
Answer: positively; negatively
Question: Which of the following are not one of the organic compounds
that make up biomacromolecules?
-lipids
-proteins
-ribosomes
-carbohydrates
Answer: Ribosomes
Question: What are carbohydrates?
Answer: commonly referred to as sugars, the primary source of fuel for organisms.
Question: The three elements in carbohydrates main structure
Answer: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Question: Why are lipids unique among the biomacromolecules?
Answer: because most of them are insoluble in water, they are not monomers but are
assembled
from smaller molecules that are chemically linked together.
, Question: Why are lipids insoluble in water?
Answer: because they are made mostly of non-polar hydrocarbon chains. water will only
dissolve
other polar or ionically bonded substances. but they can be dissolved with nonpolar
solvents such as alcohol.
Question: Name the functions of proteins as mentioned in the molecule.
Answer: (1) act as enzymes and regulate metabolic functions, (2) store amino acids, (3) act as
hormones, (4) form antibodies for immunological defense, (5) act as carriers for transport
and also form membrane channels, (6) form cell surface receptors to receive chemical
messages, and (7) act as structural molecules for support and movement.
Question: Describe how the shape of a protein is related to its function.
Answer: Proteins can be assembled into a variety of shapes which allows them to serve a
variety
of functions. Some functions of proteins are to make many needed protective tissues
such as skin, hair, and fingernails. Proteins also form enzymes (catalysts that speed up
chemical reactions) and are used to make needed substances such as hemoglobin, which
carries oxygen in red blood cells
Question: What are the roles of the two major types of nucleic acids?
Answer: DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the
inheritable characteristics of living organisms.
RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to
synthesize proteins.
Question: The foundational building blocks of protein are the organic
compounds:
Answer: Amino Acids
Question: Amino Acids are held together by what bonds?
Answer: Peptides
Question: Describe the structure of DNA and RNA.
Answer: DNA and RNA exist as chains of nucleotides. The five-carbon sugar of one nucleotide
is
linked to the phosphate of the next nucleotide, while a nitrogenous base protrudes form
each sugar in the string.
RNA is a single chain of nucleotides. DNA is a double chain of nucleotides held together
by hydrogen bonds between protruding bases.
DNA nucleotides contain one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or
thymine).
RNA nucleotides contain one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or
uracil).
