CHEM 210 Biochemistry (Portage Learning) Modules 1–8 &
Final Exam Mastery Guide: 200 Verified Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales – Covers Macromolecular Definitions,
Functional Group Identification, Organelle Functions
(Peroxisomes & Lysosomes), Molecular Geometry & Bond
Angles, Valence Electrons, and Biomolecular Composition –
Complete A+ Guaranteed Pass
1. What is the minimum molecular mass typically required for a
molecule to be classified as a macromolecule?
A. 100 g/mol
B. 500 g/mol
C. 1,000 g/mol
D. 10,000 g/mol
Answer: C. Rationale: According to standard biochemical definitions
(and the provided exam), a compound with a molecular mass of 1,000
g/mol or greater is considered a macromolecule.
2. Which of the following functional groups is present in all
carbohydrates?
A. Ketone
B. Aldehyde
C. Alcohol (hydroxyl)
D. Carboxylic acid
Answer: C. Rationale: Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or
,ketones, meaning they all contain multiple alcohol (hydroxyl) functional
groups.
3. Which element is NOT typically found in biological
macromolecules?
A. Hydrogen
B. Oxygen
C. Helium
D. Nitrogen
Answer: C. Rationale: Helium is a noble gas and is not typically found as
a constituent element in living organisms or biomolecules.
4. How many valence electrons does a carbon atom possess?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
Answer: B. Rationale: Carbon is in Group 14 of the periodic table and
has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four covalent bonds.
5. Which organelle is primarily responsible for digesting
macromolecules within a eukaryotic cell?
A. Peroxisome
B. Lysosome
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: B. Rationale: While peroxisomes break down fatty acids,
lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes specifically for digesting
macromolecules.
,6. What is the bond angle in a linear molecule like Carbon Dioxide
(CO₂)?
A. 90°
B. 109.5°
C. 120°
D. 180°
Answer: D. Rationale: Carbon dioxide has a linear molecular shape,
which dictates a bond angle of exactly 180°.
7. Which of the following is NOT a property of carbon?
A. Forming covalent bonds
B. Possessing four valence electrons
C. Forming long chains called polymers
D. Possessing five valence electrons
Answer: D. Rationale: Carbon only has four valence electrons. Having
five is a property of elements like nitrogen or phosphorus, but not
carbon.
8. What type of chemical formula explicitly shows the arrangement of
atoms and bonds?
A. Empirical formula
B. Molecular formula
C. Structural formula
D. Condensed formula
Answer: C. Rationale: A structural formula shows the C-H and C-C bonds
and the spatial arrangement of atoms, unlike molecular or empirical
formulas.
9. Which functional group is characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O)
bonded to two carbon atoms?
, A. Aldehyde
B. Ketone
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Ester
Answer: B. Rationale: A ketone has the carbonyl group (C=O) located in
the middle of a carbon chain, bonded to two other carbon atoms.
10. Which functional group would you expect to find in a molecule
classified as an amine?
A. -OH
B. -COOH
C. -NH₂
D. -SH
Answer: C. Rationale: The amine functional group is characterized by a
nitrogen atom bonded to hydrogens and/or carbons, typically denoted
as -NH₂.
11. Which of the following is a functional group found in amino acids
but is NOT an alcohol?
A. Hydroxyl
B. Carboxyl
C. Ketone
D. Aldehyde
Answer: B. Rationale: Amino acids contain both an amine group and a
carboxyl (carboxylic acid) group.
12. What is the molecular shape of a methane (CH₄) molecule?
A. Linear
B. Trigonal planar
C. Tetrahedral
Final Exam Mastery Guide: 200 Verified Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales – Covers Macromolecular Definitions,
Functional Group Identification, Organelle Functions
(Peroxisomes & Lysosomes), Molecular Geometry & Bond
Angles, Valence Electrons, and Biomolecular Composition –
Complete A+ Guaranteed Pass
1. What is the minimum molecular mass typically required for a
molecule to be classified as a macromolecule?
A. 100 g/mol
B. 500 g/mol
C. 1,000 g/mol
D. 10,000 g/mol
Answer: C. Rationale: According to standard biochemical definitions
(and the provided exam), a compound with a molecular mass of 1,000
g/mol or greater is considered a macromolecule.
2. Which of the following functional groups is present in all
carbohydrates?
A. Ketone
B. Aldehyde
C. Alcohol (hydroxyl)
D. Carboxylic acid
Answer: C. Rationale: Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or
,ketones, meaning they all contain multiple alcohol (hydroxyl) functional
groups.
3. Which element is NOT typically found in biological
macromolecules?
A. Hydrogen
B. Oxygen
C. Helium
D. Nitrogen
Answer: C. Rationale: Helium is a noble gas and is not typically found as
a constituent element in living organisms or biomolecules.
4. How many valence electrons does a carbon atom possess?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
Answer: B. Rationale: Carbon is in Group 14 of the periodic table and
has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four covalent bonds.
5. Which organelle is primarily responsible for digesting
macromolecules within a eukaryotic cell?
A. Peroxisome
B. Lysosome
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: B. Rationale: While peroxisomes break down fatty acids,
lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes specifically for digesting
macromolecules.
,6. What is the bond angle in a linear molecule like Carbon Dioxide
(CO₂)?
A. 90°
B. 109.5°
C. 120°
D. 180°
Answer: D. Rationale: Carbon dioxide has a linear molecular shape,
which dictates a bond angle of exactly 180°.
7. Which of the following is NOT a property of carbon?
A. Forming covalent bonds
B. Possessing four valence electrons
C. Forming long chains called polymers
D. Possessing five valence electrons
Answer: D. Rationale: Carbon only has four valence electrons. Having
five is a property of elements like nitrogen or phosphorus, but not
carbon.
8. What type of chemical formula explicitly shows the arrangement of
atoms and bonds?
A. Empirical formula
B. Molecular formula
C. Structural formula
D. Condensed formula
Answer: C. Rationale: A structural formula shows the C-H and C-C bonds
and the spatial arrangement of atoms, unlike molecular or empirical
formulas.
9. Which functional group is characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O)
bonded to two carbon atoms?
, A. Aldehyde
B. Ketone
C. Carboxylic acid
D. Ester
Answer: B. Rationale: A ketone has the carbonyl group (C=O) located in
the middle of a carbon chain, bonded to two other carbon atoms.
10. Which functional group would you expect to find in a molecule
classified as an amine?
A. -OH
B. -COOH
C. -NH₂
D. -SH
Answer: C. Rationale: The amine functional group is characterized by a
nitrogen atom bonded to hydrogens and/or carbons, typically denoted
as -NH₂.
11. Which of the following is a functional group found in amino acids
but is NOT an alcohol?
A. Hydroxyl
B. Carboxyl
C. Ketone
D. Aldehyde
Answer: B. Rationale: Amino acids contain both an amine group and a
carboxyl (carboxylic acid) group.
12. What is the molecular shape of a methane (CH₄) molecule?
A. Linear
B. Trigonal planar
C. Tetrahedral
