BIOL2010: Final Exam Study Guide
Chapter One:
*Definitions:
1. Inductive Reasoning: Scientists make a number of observations and based on the
recorded data the scientist infers conclusions (inductions).
a. (From in to out)
b. Uses related observations to arrive a general conclusions
i. Example: My math teacher is bald, my previous math teacher was also
bald, so that must mean all my math teachers will be bald
2. Deductive Reasoning: Uses a general principle or law to predict specific results
a. (From out to in)
b. Begins with a specific question or problem and a potential answer that can be
tested
i. Example: Quadrilaterals have four sides. A general principle that you
would deduce is that a square is a quadrilateral.
ii. All birds have feathers → A robin has feathers, a robin is a bird.
3. Scientific Method: A process of experimentation that is used to explore observations and
answer questions.
a. First documented by Sir Francis Bacon
b. *Broken down into specific steps*
c. When testing an experiment, there are a lot of variables to consider.
4. Controlled Experiment: An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a
time.
5. Biology: The study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their
environments.
6. Control: A control group is a group of specimens that does not receive the treatment
7. Hypothesis: A testable prediction, often implied by a theory. Little data and testing.
8. Natural Science: Field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena
and processes.
9. Theory: Tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena.
a. A hypothesis that has been tested thoroughly with significant data to back up the
conclusion.
10. Variable: Part of an experiment that the experimenter can vary or change
Discussion Questions:
1. What are the steps of the scientific method?
a. Make an observation
b. Ask a question
c. Form a hypothesis that answers the question
, d. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis
e. DO an experiment to test the prediction
f. Analyze results
i. Hypothesis is Correct or Incorrect
g. Report Results
h. Try again
2. Can you distinguish the difference between statements based on inductive and
deductive reasoning?
a. The difference between statements based on inductive and deductive reasoning is
that inductive reasoning is a form of logical thinking that uses related
observations to arrive at a general conclusion. Deductive reason is a form of
logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to forecast specific results.
3. Be able to identify the difference between a testable hypothesis and one that cannot
be tested.
4. What are the characteristics of all living things?
a. Order: Inside each cell, atoms make up molecules; these in turn make up cell
organelles and other cellular inclusions. In multicellular organisms, similar cells
form tissues. Tissues, in turn, collaborate to create organs (body structures with a
distinct function). Organs work together to form organ systems.
b. Sensitivity or Response to Environment/Stimuli: The ability for organisms to
respond to diverse stimuli. For example, change in temperature, environment,
response to touch, etc.
c. Reproduction: When reproduction occurs, genes containing DNA are passed
along to an organism’s offspring. These genes ensure that the offspring will
belong to the same species and will have similar characteristics, such as size and
shape.
d. Adaptation: Organisms adapting to new surroundings, temperatures,
environments, and more is crucial for survival.
e. Growth and Development: Ensures that a species young will grow up to exhibit
many of the same characteristics as its parents.
f. Regulation: Regulation helps coordinate internal functions, response to stimuli,
and helps organisms cope with environmental stresses.
g. Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions.
h. Energy Processing: All organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic
activities.
i. Evolution: Process of gradual change during which new species arise from older
species and some species become extinct.
5. Why is it important to include a control group in an experiment?
, a. It allows a variable to be isolated and eliminated when carrying out the
experiment.
Chapter 2:
Definitions*:
1. Atom: The smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an
element.
2. Molecule: Two or more atoms chemically bonded together.
3. Compound: Substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two
different elements.
4. Electron: Negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the
electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of -1 unit.
5. Proton: Positively charged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of
one amu and a charge of +1
6. Neutron: Uncharged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of one
amu.
7. Covalent bond: Type of strong bond formed between two of the same or different
elements; forms when electrons are shared between atoms.
8. Hydrogen bond: Weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms to
slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules.
9. Ionic bond: Chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and
anions).
10. Atomic number: Total number of protons in an atom.
11. Atomic weight: Calculated mean of the mass number for an element’s isotopes.
12. Atomic model: Also known as the Bohr Model; shows that electrons exist within
principal shells.
13. Valence electrons: The outermost electron shell.
14. Polar covalent bond: Type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal sharing of
electrons, resulting in the creation of slightly positive and slightly negative charged
regions of the molecule.
15. Nonpolar covalent bond: Type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when
electrons are shared equally between them.
16. Isotopes: One or more forms of an element that have different numbers of neutrons.
17. Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
18. Elements: One of the 118 unique substances that cannot be broken down into smaller
substances; each element has unique properties and specified number of protons.
19. Ion: Atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and
electrons.
20. Water: H2 O
, 21. Hydrophobic: “Afraid of water”; describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not
interact well with polar molecules such as water.
22. Hydrophilic: “love of water”; describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with
other polar molecules such as water.
23. Surface tension: Tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules
from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the molecules of the
liquid.
24. Isomer: Molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same
chemical formula.
25. Reactant: A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.
26. Product: A substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
27. Functional group: Group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a
carbon skeleton.
Discussion Questions:
1. What information is provided about each element in the periodic table?
a. To begin, the most important piece of information is the element’s symbol. The
atomic number and atomic mass are located on the periodic table, as well as an
element’s electronegativity, valence number, and the electron configuration.
2. What is responsible for the unique properties of water?
a. Surface Tension
b. Boiling Point
c. Freezing Point
d. Heat of Vaporization
e. Vapor Pressure
3. What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
a. A molecule is two or more atoms chemically bonded together, but a compound is
a substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different
elements.
4. Be able to draw the atomic structure of an element, including placing the electrons
in the correct shells.*
5. What are the different types of bonds that connect atoms of a molecule and how
does each one form?
a. Ionic bonds are formed when atoms exchange electrons. Covalent bonds form
when atoms share electrons.
6. What is the structure of an atom?
a. An atom has a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, and orbitals, which
contain electrons.
7. What types of particles are in the nucleus?
Chapter One:
*Definitions:
1. Inductive Reasoning: Scientists make a number of observations and based on the
recorded data the scientist infers conclusions (inductions).
a. (From in to out)
b. Uses related observations to arrive a general conclusions
i. Example: My math teacher is bald, my previous math teacher was also
bald, so that must mean all my math teachers will be bald
2. Deductive Reasoning: Uses a general principle or law to predict specific results
a. (From out to in)
b. Begins with a specific question or problem and a potential answer that can be
tested
i. Example: Quadrilaterals have four sides. A general principle that you
would deduce is that a square is a quadrilateral.
ii. All birds have feathers → A robin has feathers, a robin is a bird.
3. Scientific Method: A process of experimentation that is used to explore observations and
answer questions.
a. First documented by Sir Francis Bacon
b. *Broken down into specific steps*
c. When testing an experiment, there are a lot of variables to consider.
4. Controlled Experiment: An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a
time.
5. Biology: The study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their
environments.
6. Control: A control group is a group of specimens that does not receive the treatment
7. Hypothesis: A testable prediction, often implied by a theory. Little data and testing.
8. Natural Science: Field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena
and processes.
9. Theory: Tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena.
a. A hypothesis that has been tested thoroughly with significant data to back up the
conclusion.
10. Variable: Part of an experiment that the experimenter can vary or change
Discussion Questions:
1. What are the steps of the scientific method?
a. Make an observation
b. Ask a question
c. Form a hypothesis that answers the question
, d. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis
e. DO an experiment to test the prediction
f. Analyze results
i. Hypothesis is Correct or Incorrect
g. Report Results
h. Try again
2. Can you distinguish the difference between statements based on inductive and
deductive reasoning?
a. The difference between statements based on inductive and deductive reasoning is
that inductive reasoning is a form of logical thinking that uses related
observations to arrive at a general conclusion. Deductive reason is a form of
logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to forecast specific results.
3. Be able to identify the difference between a testable hypothesis and one that cannot
be tested.
4. What are the characteristics of all living things?
a. Order: Inside each cell, atoms make up molecules; these in turn make up cell
organelles and other cellular inclusions. In multicellular organisms, similar cells
form tissues. Tissues, in turn, collaborate to create organs (body structures with a
distinct function). Organs work together to form organ systems.
b. Sensitivity or Response to Environment/Stimuli: The ability for organisms to
respond to diverse stimuli. For example, change in temperature, environment,
response to touch, etc.
c. Reproduction: When reproduction occurs, genes containing DNA are passed
along to an organism’s offspring. These genes ensure that the offspring will
belong to the same species and will have similar characteristics, such as size and
shape.
d. Adaptation: Organisms adapting to new surroundings, temperatures,
environments, and more is crucial for survival.
e. Growth and Development: Ensures that a species young will grow up to exhibit
many of the same characteristics as its parents.
f. Regulation: Regulation helps coordinate internal functions, response to stimuli,
and helps organisms cope with environmental stresses.
g. Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions.
h. Energy Processing: All organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic
activities.
i. Evolution: Process of gradual change during which new species arise from older
species and some species become extinct.
5. Why is it important to include a control group in an experiment?
, a. It allows a variable to be isolated and eliminated when carrying out the
experiment.
Chapter 2:
Definitions*:
1. Atom: The smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an
element.
2. Molecule: Two or more atoms chemically bonded together.
3. Compound: Substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two
different elements.
4. Electron: Negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the
electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of -1 unit.
5. Proton: Positively charged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of
one amu and a charge of +1
6. Neutron: Uncharged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of one
amu.
7. Covalent bond: Type of strong bond formed between two of the same or different
elements; forms when electrons are shared between atoms.
8. Hydrogen bond: Weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms to
slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules.
9. Ionic bond: Chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and
anions).
10. Atomic number: Total number of protons in an atom.
11. Atomic weight: Calculated mean of the mass number for an element’s isotopes.
12. Atomic model: Also known as the Bohr Model; shows that electrons exist within
principal shells.
13. Valence electrons: The outermost electron shell.
14. Polar covalent bond: Type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal sharing of
electrons, resulting in the creation of slightly positive and slightly negative charged
regions of the molecule.
15. Nonpolar covalent bond: Type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when
electrons are shared equally between them.
16. Isotopes: One or more forms of an element that have different numbers of neutrons.
17. Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
18. Elements: One of the 118 unique substances that cannot be broken down into smaller
substances; each element has unique properties and specified number of protons.
19. Ion: Atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and
electrons.
20. Water: H2 O
, 21. Hydrophobic: “Afraid of water”; describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not
interact well with polar molecules such as water.
22. Hydrophilic: “love of water”; describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with
other polar molecules such as water.
23. Surface tension: Tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules
from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the molecules of the
liquid.
24. Isomer: Molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same
chemical formula.
25. Reactant: A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.
26. Product: A substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
27. Functional group: Group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a
carbon skeleton.
Discussion Questions:
1. What information is provided about each element in the periodic table?
a. To begin, the most important piece of information is the element’s symbol. The
atomic number and atomic mass are located on the periodic table, as well as an
element’s electronegativity, valence number, and the electron configuration.
2. What is responsible for the unique properties of water?
a. Surface Tension
b. Boiling Point
c. Freezing Point
d. Heat of Vaporization
e. Vapor Pressure
3. What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
a. A molecule is two or more atoms chemically bonded together, but a compound is
a substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different
elements.
4. Be able to draw the atomic structure of an element, including placing the electrons
in the correct shells.*
5. What are the different types of bonds that connect atoms of a molecule and how
does each one form?
a. Ionic bonds are formed when atoms exchange electrons. Covalent bonds form
when atoms share electrons.
6. What is the structure of an atom?
a. An atom has a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, and orbitals, which
contain electrons.
7. What types of particles are in the nucleus?
