ACC Biology Accuplacer Study Guide Test Questions with Verified Solutions (Graded A+)
Atomic Structure - Answers Protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom.The nucleus is
surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons which are bound to the nucleus by an
electromagnetic force.
Identifying Elements - Answers Elements are arranged based on their atomic and mass numbers on the
periodic table of elements. As you go across the table the atomic weight increases.
Radioisotopes - Answers A naturally or artificially produced radioactive isotope of an element.
Molecules - Answers The smallest possible amount of a particular substance that has all the
characteristics of that substance. Formed when two or more atoms join together chemically.
Compounds - Answers A molecule that contains at least two different elements.
The role of electrons in chemical bonding - Answers The electron in the outermost shell of an atom
chemically bonds with another atom. Electrons have a negative charge and orbit around the nucleus in
the electron shells.
Chemical equation - Answers A symbolic representation of the starting substances(reactants) and the
chemical formula of the products.
Energy flow in chemical reactions - Answers Two possible situations:
1.The internal energy of the products is less then the internal energy of the reactants.(exergonic
reaction)
2.The internal energy of the products is more then the internal energy of the reactants.(endergonic
reaction)
Reversible chemical reactions - Answers The reactants and products are never fully consumed.They are
each constantly reacting and being produced.
Irreversible chemical reactions - Answers Reactions in which the reactants convert to products and
where the products cannot convert back to the reactants.
Inorganic compound - Answers Any compounds lacking carbon atoms, or when present is ionically bond
to other atoms.
Water - Answers An inorganic compound that does not contain any carbon atoms.
Acids - Answers Dissociates in water into electrolytes.A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in
solution.
Bases - Answers A substance that releases hydroxyl ions (OH-) in solution, or one that accepts H+ already
present in solution.Dissociates in water into electrolytes.
, Salts - Answers Dissociates completely in water. The positive and negative regions on the water
molecule attract the negative chloride and positive sodium ions, pulling them away from each other.
Organic compounds - Answers Any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical
compounds whose molecules contain carbon.
Carbohydrates - Answers Groups of molecules that contain carbon,oxygen,and hydrogen.Include sugars
and starches.
Lipids - Answers Molecules that are insoluble in water.Contain hydrogen,oxygen,and carbon.Oxygen
occurs in lower quantities.Some contain phosphors
Proteins - Answers Contain carbon,oxygen,hydrogen,and nitrogen.Some contain phosphors and sulfur.
Nucleic acids - Answers Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
DNA - Answers Roles include: blueprint of photosynthesis and directs it's own replication.
RNA - Answers Roles include: decoding,communication,and translation.
Adenosine triphosphate - Answers Contains RNA nucleotide with two additional phosphate groups.
Energy released in glucose catabolism is captured and stored in phosphate bonds of ATP.
The fluid mosaic model - Answers A model conceived by S.J. Singer and Garth Nicolson in 1972 to
describe the structural features of biological membranes.
Special functions of plasma membrane - Answers Isolate the cytoplasm from the external
environment,regulate the exchange of substances,communicate with other cells,and identification
Membrane transport - Answers The collection of mechanisms that regulate the passage of solutes such
as ions and small molecules through biological membranes
Maintaining a resting membrane potential - Answers Maintain the concentration differences in sodium
and potassium ions between the intracellular and extracellular solutions.
Generating a resting membrane potential - Answers ...
Cell environment interactions - Answers The direct interactions between cell surfaces that play a crucial
role in the development and function of multicellular organisms.
Stable interactions - Answers Cell junctions which are multiprotein complexes that provide contact
between neighboring cells.
Cytoplasmic organelles - Answers The membrane-bound structures in a cell.
Ribosomes - Answers Tiny spherical bodies composed of RNA and proteins.Actual sites of protein
synthesis.Floating free or attached to a membranous structure the (rough ER) in the cytoplasm.
Atomic Structure - Answers Protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom.The nucleus is
surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons which are bound to the nucleus by an
electromagnetic force.
Identifying Elements - Answers Elements are arranged based on their atomic and mass numbers on the
periodic table of elements. As you go across the table the atomic weight increases.
Radioisotopes - Answers A naturally or artificially produced radioactive isotope of an element.
Molecules - Answers The smallest possible amount of a particular substance that has all the
characteristics of that substance. Formed when two or more atoms join together chemically.
Compounds - Answers A molecule that contains at least two different elements.
The role of electrons in chemical bonding - Answers The electron in the outermost shell of an atom
chemically bonds with another atom. Electrons have a negative charge and orbit around the nucleus in
the electron shells.
Chemical equation - Answers A symbolic representation of the starting substances(reactants) and the
chemical formula of the products.
Energy flow in chemical reactions - Answers Two possible situations:
1.The internal energy of the products is less then the internal energy of the reactants.(exergonic
reaction)
2.The internal energy of the products is more then the internal energy of the reactants.(endergonic
reaction)
Reversible chemical reactions - Answers The reactants and products are never fully consumed.They are
each constantly reacting and being produced.
Irreversible chemical reactions - Answers Reactions in which the reactants convert to products and
where the products cannot convert back to the reactants.
Inorganic compound - Answers Any compounds lacking carbon atoms, or when present is ionically bond
to other atoms.
Water - Answers An inorganic compound that does not contain any carbon atoms.
Acids - Answers Dissociates in water into electrolytes.A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in
solution.
Bases - Answers A substance that releases hydroxyl ions (OH-) in solution, or one that accepts H+ already
present in solution.Dissociates in water into electrolytes.
, Salts - Answers Dissociates completely in water. The positive and negative regions on the water
molecule attract the negative chloride and positive sodium ions, pulling them away from each other.
Organic compounds - Answers Any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical
compounds whose molecules contain carbon.
Carbohydrates - Answers Groups of molecules that contain carbon,oxygen,and hydrogen.Include sugars
and starches.
Lipids - Answers Molecules that are insoluble in water.Contain hydrogen,oxygen,and carbon.Oxygen
occurs in lower quantities.Some contain phosphors
Proteins - Answers Contain carbon,oxygen,hydrogen,and nitrogen.Some contain phosphors and sulfur.
Nucleic acids - Answers Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
DNA - Answers Roles include: blueprint of photosynthesis and directs it's own replication.
RNA - Answers Roles include: decoding,communication,and translation.
Adenosine triphosphate - Answers Contains RNA nucleotide with two additional phosphate groups.
Energy released in glucose catabolism is captured and stored in phosphate bonds of ATP.
The fluid mosaic model - Answers A model conceived by S.J. Singer and Garth Nicolson in 1972 to
describe the structural features of biological membranes.
Special functions of plasma membrane - Answers Isolate the cytoplasm from the external
environment,regulate the exchange of substances,communicate with other cells,and identification
Membrane transport - Answers The collection of mechanisms that regulate the passage of solutes such
as ions and small molecules through biological membranes
Maintaining a resting membrane potential - Answers Maintain the concentration differences in sodium
and potassium ions between the intracellular and extracellular solutions.
Generating a resting membrane potential - Answers ...
Cell environment interactions - Answers The direct interactions between cell surfaces that play a crucial
role in the development and function of multicellular organisms.
Stable interactions - Answers Cell junctions which are multiprotein complexes that provide contact
between neighboring cells.
Cytoplasmic organelles - Answers The membrane-bound structures in a cell.
Ribosomes - Answers Tiny spherical bodies composed of RNA and proteins.Actual sites of protein
synthesis.Floating free or attached to a membranous structure the (rough ER) in the cytoplasm.
