BMSC 230- Final Test Questions with
Guaranteed Pass Solutions 2026
Updated.
Metabolism - Answer Enzyme catalyzed reactions that occur in all cells to either breakdown
biomolecules to obtain energy (ATP), or reactions that synthesize biomolecules that our body
needs
Metabolism is the sum of - Answer Catabolism + Anabolism
Catabolism - Answer Chemical reactions that breakdown biomolecules to produce energy
Anabolism - Answer Chemical reactions that lead to the synthesis of biomolecules
• require energy input
4 primary functions of metabolism - Answer 1. Obtain chemical energy in the form of ATP
• from energy rich nutrients, or solar energy
2. Convert ingested molecules into the building blocks of larger molecules needed in the body
3. Assemble small building blocks into large building molecules
• protein, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides
4. Synthesize and degrade biomolecules that have specialized functions in cells
Metabolic pathway - Answer A series of linked reactions
A biomolecule converts into another biomolecule in a carefully defined fashion
• regulated conversion
3 types of metabolic pathways - Answer Linear - straight line
• substrate —> product —> product —> final product
Branched - starts off linear and an intermediate leads to different branched pathways
Circular - the starting biomolecule is the finish biomolecule
• citric acid cycle
Metabolic pathways are interconnected - Answer An intermediate of one pathway can be the
intermediate of another pathway
• the intermediates connect the pathways
,The integrated pathways can still be regulated independently by elegant and sensitive
mechanisms
Reactions in a pathway can be - Answer Reversible - both directions
Irreversible - only one direction
The first step in a reaction pathway is - Answer Often the regulated step
• prevents further steps
Typically the rate limiting step
Pathways that function both catabolically and anabolically are - Answer Amphibolic pathways
• citric acid cycle
Living organisms require a continual input of energy for 3 major purposes - Answer 1. The
performance of mechanical work
• muscle contraction
• cellular movement
2. Active transport of biomolecules & ions
3. Synthesis of macromolecules from simple precursors
Free energy is captured from the environment
Phototrophs - Answer Use photosynthesis to convert energy from the sunlight into chemical
form
• plants
Chemotrophs - Answer Obtain energy in the form of ATP through the oxidation of carbon fuels
such as fats and carbohydrates
• humans
Enzymes only - Answer Speed up the rate of a chemical reaction, they do NOT change the
equilibrium constant for reactions
• canNOT make a thermodynamically unfavourable reaction proceed
Two thermodynamic properties - Answer The free energy difference (deltaG) between the
products and reactants
• deltaG determines spontaneity
,The free energy required to initiate the conversion of reactants to products
• the rate at which the reaction will proceed
• enzyme affects rate
Spontaneous reactions occur when - Answer deltaG is negative
• exergonic - release energy
Non-spontaneous reactions - Answer Have a positive deltaG and require the input of energy
• often involving ATP cleavage - endergonic
When a system is at equilibrium - Answer There is no net change in the concentration of
reactants and products
• deltaG = 0
deltaG provides No info on - Answer The rate of the reaction
• only spontaneity
deltaG of the forward reaction - Answer deltaG = deltaG• + RT ln ([prod]\[react])
deltaG• = standard free energy change
• at standard conditions (1.0M, 1atm, 298K, pH7)
R = gas constant
T = absolute temp (K)
A simple way to calculate the concentration of the reactants and products when the reaction
has reached equilibrium and deltaG is 0 - Answer deltaG•' = -RT Keq —>
deltaG•' = -2.3RT log Keq
Keq = ([prod]/[react])
Relationship between Keq & deltaG - Answer Keq = 1 —> deltaG•' = 0
• equilibrium
Keq < 1 —> deltaG•' = +
• favours the reverse reaction
Keq > 1 —> deltaG•' = -
, • spontaneous - favours the forward reaction
Two or more reactions - Answer Can be completed together (coupled)
• free energy changes that occur for each one are additive - if overall reaction is neg the
reactions proceed
Couple an unfavourable with a favourable so it will proceed
• provide a new mechanism for the unfavoured process
ATP is the energy currency - Answer Used in mammals and most living organisms
Other nucleoside triphosphates - Answer GTP
UTP
CTP
Are energy rich and are sometimes used as free energy donors
• ATP is the most common
High energy bonds in ATP - Answer Acid Anhydride bonds (2) - bonds between two acid groups
(phosphates) that lose a water molecule upon formation
ATP has high - Answer Phosphoryl transfer potential
• readily transfers a phosphate group to water
The active form of ATP is usually in complex with - Answer Mg2+
Mn2+
The standard free energy of the hydrolysis of ATP - Answer The terminal phosphate group is
cleaved off to yield ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi)
• very negative -30.5kJ/mol
ATP + H2O <—> ADP + Pi
deltaG = -30.5kJ/mol
Large standard free energy of ATP is due to - Answer 1. Electrostatic repulsion - at pH7 ATP
carries 4 neg charges which repel
2. When ATP is hydrolyzed the electrostatic repulsion is reduced
Guaranteed Pass Solutions 2026
Updated.
Metabolism - Answer Enzyme catalyzed reactions that occur in all cells to either breakdown
biomolecules to obtain energy (ATP), or reactions that synthesize biomolecules that our body
needs
Metabolism is the sum of - Answer Catabolism + Anabolism
Catabolism - Answer Chemical reactions that breakdown biomolecules to produce energy
Anabolism - Answer Chemical reactions that lead to the synthesis of biomolecules
• require energy input
4 primary functions of metabolism - Answer 1. Obtain chemical energy in the form of ATP
• from energy rich nutrients, or solar energy
2. Convert ingested molecules into the building blocks of larger molecules needed in the body
3. Assemble small building blocks into large building molecules
• protein, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides
4. Synthesize and degrade biomolecules that have specialized functions in cells
Metabolic pathway - Answer A series of linked reactions
A biomolecule converts into another biomolecule in a carefully defined fashion
• regulated conversion
3 types of metabolic pathways - Answer Linear - straight line
• substrate —> product —> product —> final product
Branched - starts off linear and an intermediate leads to different branched pathways
Circular - the starting biomolecule is the finish biomolecule
• citric acid cycle
Metabolic pathways are interconnected - Answer An intermediate of one pathway can be the
intermediate of another pathway
• the intermediates connect the pathways
,The integrated pathways can still be regulated independently by elegant and sensitive
mechanisms
Reactions in a pathway can be - Answer Reversible - both directions
Irreversible - only one direction
The first step in a reaction pathway is - Answer Often the regulated step
• prevents further steps
Typically the rate limiting step
Pathways that function both catabolically and anabolically are - Answer Amphibolic pathways
• citric acid cycle
Living organisms require a continual input of energy for 3 major purposes - Answer 1. The
performance of mechanical work
• muscle contraction
• cellular movement
2. Active transport of biomolecules & ions
3. Synthesis of macromolecules from simple precursors
Free energy is captured from the environment
Phototrophs - Answer Use photosynthesis to convert energy from the sunlight into chemical
form
• plants
Chemotrophs - Answer Obtain energy in the form of ATP through the oxidation of carbon fuels
such as fats and carbohydrates
• humans
Enzymes only - Answer Speed up the rate of a chemical reaction, they do NOT change the
equilibrium constant for reactions
• canNOT make a thermodynamically unfavourable reaction proceed
Two thermodynamic properties - Answer The free energy difference (deltaG) between the
products and reactants
• deltaG determines spontaneity
,The free energy required to initiate the conversion of reactants to products
• the rate at which the reaction will proceed
• enzyme affects rate
Spontaneous reactions occur when - Answer deltaG is negative
• exergonic - release energy
Non-spontaneous reactions - Answer Have a positive deltaG and require the input of energy
• often involving ATP cleavage - endergonic
When a system is at equilibrium - Answer There is no net change in the concentration of
reactants and products
• deltaG = 0
deltaG provides No info on - Answer The rate of the reaction
• only spontaneity
deltaG of the forward reaction - Answer deltaG = deltaG• + RT ln ([prod]\[react])
deltaG• = standard free energy change
• at standard conditions (1.0M, 1atm, 298K, pH7)
R = gas constant
T = absolute temp (K)
A simple way to calculate the concentration of the reactants and products when the reaction
has reached equilibrium and deltaG is 0 - Answer deltaG•' = -RT Keq —>
deltaG•' = -2.3RT log Keq
Keq = ([prod]/[react])
Relationship between Keq & deltaG - Answer Keq = 1 —> deltaG•' = 0
• equilibrium
Keq < 1 —> deltaG•' = +
• favours the reverse reaction
Keq > 1 —> deltaG•' = -
, • spontaneous - favours the forward reaction
Two or more reactions - Answer Can be completed together (coupled)
• free energy changes that occur for each one are additive - if overall reaction is neg the
reactions proceed
Couple an unfavourable with a favourable so it will proceed
• provide a new mechanism for the unfavoured process
ATP is the energy currency - Answer Used in mammals and most living organisms
Other nucleoside triphosphates - Answer GTP
UTP
CTP
Are energy rich and are sometimes used as free energy donors
• ATP is the most common
High energy bonds in ATP - Answer Acid Anhydride bonds (2) - bonds between two acid groups
(phosphates) that lose a water molecule upon formation
ATP has high - Answer Phosphoryl transfer potential
• readily transfers a phosphate group to water
The active form of ATP is usually in complex with - Answer Mg2+
Mn2+
The standard free energy of the hydrolysis of ATP - Answer The terminal phosphate group is
cleaved off to yield ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi)
• very negative -30.5kJ/mol
ATP + H2O <—> ADP + Pi
deltaG = -30.5kJ/mol
Large standard free energy of ATP is due to - Answer 1. Electrostatic repulsion - at pH7 ATP
carries 4 neg charges which repel
2. When ATP is hydrolyzed the electrostatic repulsion is reduced
