GENERAL BIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2024/2025
What are the 7 properties of life? - ANS >>1. cellular organization
2. ordered complexity
3. sensitivity
4. growth, development, & reproduction
5. energy utilization
6. homeostasis
7. evolutionary adaptation
Levels of organization - ANS >>atom -> molecule -> organelle -> cell -> tissue -> organ -> organ system ->
organism -> population -> species -> community -> ecosystem
What are the steps of the scientific method? - ANS >>1. Observation - then ask a question
2. Hypothesis formation
3. Prediction
4. Experimentation
5. Conclusion
What is a hypothesis? - ANS >>a possible explanation for an observation
What is a theory? - ANS >>A body of interconnected concepts supported by much experimental evidence
and scientific reasoning
What are the unifying themes in biology? - ANS >>cell theory, molecular basis of inheritance, and
evolutionary change
,What is matter? - ANS >>any substance that has mass and occupies space
What is the smallest unit of matter? - ANS >>atoms
What are the components of an atom? - ANS >>protons, neutrons, and electrons
Atomic Number - ANS >>number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Mass - ANS >>the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom
What is an isotope? - ANS >>atoms of the same element that have different atomic mass numbers due to
different numbers of neutrons
Cation - ANS >>a positively charged ion; has more protons than electrons
Anion - ANS >>a negatively charged ion; has more electrons than protons
Neutral Atoms - ANS >>have the same number of protons & electrons
Oxidation - ANS >>loss of electrons
Reduction - ANS >>gain of electrons
Valence Electrons - ANS >>the electrons on the outer most ring of an atom
What is the difference between a molecule and a compound? - ANS >>molecules are groups of atoms
held together in a stable association (O2, H2O, NaCl)
compounds are molecules containing more than 1 type of element (H2O, NaCl)
, Ionic Bonds - ANS >>formed by the attraction of oppositely charged ions
Covalent Bonds - ANS >>form when atoms share 2 or more electrons
What are some things that can affect the occurence of a chemical reaction? - ANS >>temperature,
concentration of reactants & products, and availability of a catalyst
Properties of water - ANS >>1. high specific heat
2. high heat of vaporization
3. solid water is less dense than liquid water
4. good solvent
5. organizes nonpolar molecules (hydrophilic/hydrophobic)
6. can form ions
Acid - ANS >>a chemical that releases H+ ions (<7)
Base - ANS >>a chemical that accepts hydrogen ions (>7)
Why are buffers important in a cell? - ANS >>they accept/release H+ as necessary to keep pH constant
What are the 4 biologically important molecules? - ANS >>1. carbohydrates
2. nucleic acids
3. proteins
4. lipids
What are the monomers of carbohydrates? - ANS >>monosaccharides (glucose)
What are the monomers of nucleic acids? - ANS >>nucleotides
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2024/2025
What are the 7 properties of life? - ANS >>1. cellular organization
2. ordered complexity
3. sensitivity
4. growth, development, & reproduction
5. energy utilization
6. homeostasis
7. evolutionary adaptation
Levels of organization - ANS >>atom -> molecule -> organelle -> cell -> tissue -> organ -> organ system ->
organism -> population -> species -> community -> ecosystem
What are the steps of the scientific method? - ANS >>1. Observation - then ask a question
2. Hypothesis formation
3. Prediction
4. Experimentation
5. Conclusion
What is a hypothesis? - ANS >>a possible explanation for an observation
What is a theory? - ANS >>A body of interconnected concepts supported by much experimental evidence
and scientific reasoning
What are the unifying themes in biology? - ANS >>cell theory, molecular basis of inheritance, and
evolutionary change
,What is matter? - ANS >>any substance that has mass and occupies space
What is the smallest unit of matter? - ANS >>atoms
What are the components of an atom? - ANS >>protons, neutrons, and electrons
Atomic Number - ANS >>number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Mass - ANS >>the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom
What is an isotope? - ANS >>atoms of the same element that have different atomic mass numbers due to
different numbers of neutrons
Cation - ANS >>a positively charged ion; has more protons than electrons
Anion - ANS >>a negatively charged ion; has more electrons than protons
Neutral Atoms - ANS >>have the same number of protons & electrons
Oxidation - ANS >>loss of electrons
Reduction - ANS >>gain of electrons
Valence Electrons - ANS >>the electrons on the outer most ring of an atom
What is the difference between a molecule and a compound? - ANS >>molecules are groups of atoms
held together in a stable association (O2, H2O, NaCl)
compounds are molecules containing more than 1 type of element (H2O, NaCl)
, Ionic Bonds - ANS >>formed by the attraction of oppositely charged ions
Covalent Bonds - ANS >>form when atoms share 2 or more electrons
What are some things that can affect the occurence of a chemical reaction? - ANS >>temperature,
concentration of reactants & products, and availability of a catalyst
Properties of water - ANS >>1. high specific heat
2. high heat of vaporization
3. solid water is less dense than liquid water
4. good solvent
5. organizes nonpolar molecules (hydrophilic/hydrophobic)
6. can form ions
Acid - ANS >>a chemical that releases H+ ions (<7)
Base - ANS >>a chemical that accepts hydrogen ions (>7)
Why are buffers important in a cell? - ANS >>they accept/release H+ as necessary to keep pH constant
What are the 4 biologically important molecules? - ANS >>1. carbohydrates
2. nucleic acids
3. proteins
4. lipids
What are the monomers of carbohydrates? - ANS >>monosaccharides (glucose)
What are the monomers of nucleic acids? - ANS >>nucleotides
