BIO 110 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY EXAM 1 REVIEW 2026/2027
Scientific method - ✔✔A process of examination and discovery of natural phenomena that involves
making observations, constructing hypotheses, testing predictions, experimenting, and drawing
conclusions and revising them as necessary.
Independent Variable - ✔✔A measurable entity that is available at the start of a process being
observed and the value of which can be changed as required; generally represented on the x-axis in a
graph.
Dependent variable - ✔✔A measurable entity that is created by the process being observed and the
value of which cannot be controlled; generally represented on the y-axis in a graph and expected to
change in response to a change in the independent variable.
How to determine the number of protons neutrons and electrons in an atom - ✔✔The number of
protons in the nucleus of the atom is equal to the atomic number (Z).
The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons.
The mass number of the atom (M) is equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus.
The number of neutrons is equal to the difference between the mass number of the atom (M) and the
atomic number (Z).
Double blind - ✔✔An experimental design in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters know
what treatment (if any) the individual subjects are receiving.
Single blind - ✔✔denoting a test or experiment in which information that may bias the results is
concealed from either tester or subject
Atomic structure - ✔✔Atoms consist of three basic particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons. The
nucleus (center) of the atom contains the protons (positively charged) and the neutrons (no charge). The
outermost regions of the atom are called electron shells and contain the electrons (negatively charged)
atomic shell sizes - ✔✔Each shell can contain only a fixed number of electrons: The first shell can hold
up to two electrons, the second shell can hold up to eight (2 + 6) electrons, the third shell can hold up to
18 (2 + 6 + 10) and so on. The general formula is that the nth shell can in principle hold up to 2(n2)
electrons.
Proton - ✔✔A positively charged particle in the atomic nucleus; it is identical to the nucleus of the
hydrogen atom, which lacks a neutron and has atomic number 1.
Neutron - ✔✔An electrically neutral particle in the atomic nucleus. [Lat., neutro, in neither direction]
Electron - ✔✔A negatively charged particle that moves around the atomic nucleus.
Atomic number - ✔✔The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of a given element.
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY EXAM 1 REVIEW 2026/2027
Scientific method - ✔✔A process of examination and discovery of natural phenomena that involves
making observations, constructing hypotheses, testing predictions, experimenting, and drawing
conclusions and revising them as necessary.
Independent Variable - ✔✔A measurable entity that is available at the start of a process being
observed and the value of which can be changed as required; generally represented on the x-axis in a
graph.
Dependent variable - ✔✔A measurable entity that is created by the process being observed and the
value of which cannot be controlled; generally represented on the y-axis in a graph and expected to
change in response to a change in the independent variable.
How to determine the number of protons neutrons and electrons in an atom - ✔✔The number of
protons in the nucleus of the atom is equal to the atomic number (Z).
The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons.
The mass number of the atom (M) is equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus.
The number of neutrons is equal to the difference between the mass number of the atom (M) and the
atomic number (Z).
Double blind - ✔✔An experimental design in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters know
what treatment (if any) the individual subjects are receiving.
Single blind - ✔✔denoting a test or experiment in which information that may bias the results is
concealed from either tester or subject
Atomic structure - ✔✔Atoms consist of three basic particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons. The
nucleus (center) of the atom contains the protons (positively charged) and the neutrons (no charge). The
outermost regions of the atom are called electron shells and contain the electrons (negatively charged)
atomic shell sizes - ✔✔Each shell can contain only a fixed number of electrons: The first shell can hold
up to two electrons, the second shell can hold up to eight (2 + 6) electrons, the third shell can hold up to
18 (2 + 6 + 10) and so on. The general formula is that the nth shell can in principle hold up to 2(n2)
electrons.
Proton - ✔✔A positively charged particle in the atomic nucleus; it is identical to the nucleus of the
hydrogen atom, which lacks a neutron and has atomic number 1.
Neutron - ✔✔An electrically neutral particle in the atomic nucleus. [Lat., neutro, in neither direction]
Electron - ✔✔A negatively charged particle that moves around the atomic nucleus.
Atomic number - ✔✔The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of a given element.
