AP BIOLOGY EXAM KEY WORDS
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Amino acid - Answer-Organic molecules that serve as building blocks of proteins; has
four important parts: amino group, carboxylate group, hydrogen, R group.
Fructose - Answer-A common sugar in fruits
Lipids - Answer-Fats, oils, phospholipids, and steroids
Triglyceride - Answer-Fat
Ester linkage - Answer-Linkage formed between glycerol molecule and fatty acids
Phospholipid - Answer-Two fatty acid "tails" and one negatively charged phosphate
"head". Two fatty acid tails are hydrophobic, phosphate head is hydrophilic.
Amphipathic - Answer-Has both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic region
Steroid structure - Answer-Unique structure of Four linked carbon rings
Nucleic Acids - Answer-Molecules made of simple units called nucleotides
Oparin and Haldane - Answer-Proposed the primitive atmosphere contained the
following gasses: methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), Hydrogen (H2), and Water (H2O).
Primitive Atmosphere - Answer-Virtually no free oxygen
Hydrophilic - Answer-"Water loving" polar
Hydrophobic - Answer-"Water fearing" non polar
Nucleus - Answer-The positively charged central core of an atom, consisting of protons
and neutrons and containing nearly all its mass; a dense organelle present in most
eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane,
containing the genetic material.
Isotope - Answer-each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal
numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in
relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of
an element.
, Surface tension - Answer-The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are
responsible for this phenomenon. The molecules at the surface do not have other like
molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those
directly associated with them on the surface. This forms a surface "film" which makes it
more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is
completely submersed.
Hydrogen Bond - Answer-A hydrogen bond is the electrostatic attraction between polar
molecules that occurs when a hydrogen (H) atom bound to a highly electronegative
atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) or fluorine (F) experiences attraction to some
other nearby highly electronegative atom.
Compound - Answer-A compound is a substance formed by the reaction of two or more
chemical elements. The elements in a compound are present in fixed ratios.
Chemical Reaction - Answer-Reactions occur when two or more molecules interact and
the molecules change. Bonds between atoms are broken and created to form new
molecules.
Chemical bond - Answer-A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows
the formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms. The bond is
caused by the electrostatic force of attraction between opposite charges, either between
electrons and nuclei, or as the result of a dipole attraction.
Ionic bond - Answer-Formed between two atoms when one or more electrons are
transferred from one atom to the other
Covalent bond - Answer-Formed when electrons are shared between atoms
Nonpolar covalent - Answer-Electrons are shared equally between atoms
Polar covalent - Answer-Electrons are shared unequally
Cohesion - Answer-Water molecules have a strong tendency to stick together
Adhesion - Answer-Water molecules also like to stick to other substances
Heat capacity - Answer-The ability of a substance to store heat
Acidic solution - Answer-Releases a lot of hydrogen ions (H+) if dissolved in water
Basic solution - Answer-Do not release hydrogen ions when added to water, they
release a lot of hydroxide (OH-) ions.
pH scale - Answer-The acidity or alkalinity of a solution can be measured using this
scale
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Amino acid - Answer-Organic molecules that serve as building blocks of proteins; has
four important parts: amino group, carboxylate group, hydrogen, R group.
Fructose - Answer-A common sugar in fruits
Lipids - Answer-Fats, oils, phospholipids, and steroids
Triglyceride - Answer-Fat
Ester linkage - Answer-Linkage formed between glycerol molecule and fatty acids
Phospholipid - Answer-Two fatty acid "tails" and one negatively charged phosphate
"head". Two fatty acid tails are hydrophobic, phosphate head is hydrophilic.
Amphipathic - Answer-Has both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic region
Steroid structure - Answer-Unique structure of Four linked carbon rings
Nucleic Acids - Answer-Molecules made of simple units called nucleotides
Oparin and Haldane - Answer-Proposed the primitive atmosphere contained the
following gasses: methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), Hydrogen (H2), and Water (H2O).
Primitive Atmosphere - Answer-Virtually no free oxygen
Hydrophilic - Answer-"Water loving" polar
Hydrophobic - Answer-"Water fearing" non polar
Nucleus - Answer-The positively charged central core of an atom, consisting of protons
and neutrons and containing nearly all its mass; a dense organelle present in most
eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane,
containing the genetic material.
Isotope - Answer-each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal
numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in
relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of
an element.
, Surface tension - Answer-The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are
responsible for this phenomenon. The molecules at the surface do not have other like
molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those
directly associated with them on the surface. This forms a surface "film" which makes it
more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is
completely submersed.
Hydrogen Bond - Answer-A hydrogen bond is the electrostatic attraction between polar
molecules that occurs when a hydrogen (H) atom bound to a highly electronegative
atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) or fluorine (F) experiences attraction to some
other nearby highly electronegative atom.
Compound - Answer-A compound is a substance formed by the reaction of two or more
chemical elements. The elements in a compound are present in fixed ratios.
Chemical Reaction - Answer-Reactions occur when two or more molecules interact and
the molecules change. Bonds between atoms are broken and created to form new
molecules.
Chemical bond - Answer-A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows
the formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms. The bond is
caused by the electrostatic force of attraction between opposite charges, either between
electrons and nuclei, or as the result of a dipole attraction.
Ionic bond - Answer-Formed between two atoms when one or more electrons are
transferred from one atom to the other
Covalent bond - Answer-Formed when electrons are shared between atoms
Nonpolar covalent - Answer-Electrons are shared equally between atoms
Polar covalent - Answer-Electrons are shared unequally
Cohesion - Answer-Water molecules have a strong tendency to stick together
Adhesion - Answer-Water molecules also like to stick to other substances
Heat capacity - Answer-The ability of a substance to store heat
Acidic solution - Answer-Releases a lot of hydrogen ions (H+) if dissolved in water
Basic solution - Answer-Do not release hydrogen ions when added to water, they
release a lot of hydroxide (OH-) ions.
pH scale - Answer-The acidity or alkalinity of a solution can be measured using this
scale
