Baylor Biochemistry Lahousse Final
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
what do we mean or understand for "living organisms exist in a dynamic steady
state, never at equilibrium"? - Correct answer-- biological dynamic steady state
-fluctuations in material concentrations
- to maintain steady state far from equilibrium
how do you maintain a dynamic steady state - Correct answer-energy must be
invested in to do work.
biological dynamic steady state - Correct answer-concentrations of biological
material is maintained within a certain range
creating and maintaining orders requires work and energy (Gibbs free energy) -
Correct answer-- Gibbs Free Energy
- Delta G is negative, reaction is spontaneous
- amount of work energy is less than the theoretical energy released
- closed system proceed spontaneously until equilibrium
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Mass-Action Ratio (Q)
Gibbs Free Energy - Correct answer-the energy of a system that is available to do
work at a constant temperature and pressure
deltG = H - TdeltS
Mass-Action Ratio (Q) - Correct answer-Ratio of product concentrations at a given
time
hydrophobic effect - Correct answer-non-polar compounds force energetically
unfavorable changes in the structure of water
hydrophobic interactions - Correct answer-complex phenomenon associated with
the ordering of water molecules around nonpolar substances
like-dissolves-like - Correct answer-water dissolves polar salts and charge
biomolecules by screening electrostatic interactions
why does salt dissolve in water - Correct answer-due to the increase in entropy of
the system
why do hydrophobic regions cluster - Correct answer-to minimize contact with
polar solvents and maximize polar region contact with polar portions
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, how does the hydrophobic effect increase entropy - Correct answer-nonpolar
substances aggregate in an aqueous environment so that water can have a favorable
change in entropy
results in the hydrophobic effect - Correct answer-system achieves grates of
thermodynamic stability
formation of micelles - Correct answer-a favorable interactive process that forms
an aqueous core by the formation of a spherical phospholipid bilayer
interactions of phospholipids - Correct answer-the hydrophobic effect keeps
membrane intact, important for structure and function
stability of weak interaction structure - Correct answer-individually weak,
collectively strong.
- most stable macromolecules maximize weak interactions.
what is the pH of [H+]? - Correct answer-pH = -log[H+]
how to predict ionization of Henderson-Hasselbach equation - Correct answer-can
predict overall charge of a molecule
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation - Correct answer-pH = pKa + log [A-]/[HA]
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
what do we mean or understand for "living organisms exist in a dynamic steady
state, never at equilibrium"? - Correct answer-- biological dynamic steady state
-fluctuations in material concentrations
- to maintain steady state far from equilibrium
how do you maintain a dynamic steady state - Correct answer-energy must be
invested in to do work.
biological dynamic steady state - Correct answer-concentrations of biological
material is maintained within a certain range
creating and maintaining orders requires work and energy (Gibbs free energy) -
Correct answer-- Gibbs Free Energy
- Delta G is negative, reaction is spontaneous
- amount of work energy is less than the theoretical energy released
- closed system proceed spontaneously until equilibrium
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Mass-Action Ratio (Q)
Gibbs Free Energy - Correct answer-the energy of a system that is available to do
work at a constant temperature and pressure
deltG = H - TdeltS
Mass-Action Ratio (Q) - Correct answer-Ratio of product concentrations at a given
time
hydrophobic effect - Correct answer-non-polar compounds force energetically
unfavorable changes in the structure of water
hydrophobic interactions - Correct answer-complex phenomenon associated with
the ordering of water molecules around nonpolar substances
like-dissolves-like - Correct answer-water dissolves polar salts and charge
biomolecules by screening electrostatic interactions
why does salt dissolve in water - Correct answer-due to the increase in entropy of
the system
why do hydrophobic regions cluster - Correct answer-to minimize contact with
polar solvents and maximize polar region contact with polar portions
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, how does the hydrophobic effect increase entropy - Correct answer-nonpolar
substances aggregate in an aqueous environment so that water can have a favorable
change in entropy
results in the hydrophobic effect - Correct answer-system achieves grates of
thermodynamic stability
formation of micelles - Correct answer-a favorable interactive process that forms
an aqueous core by the formation of a spherical phospholipid bilayer
interactions of phospholipids - Correct answer-the hydrophobic effect keeps
membrane intact, important for structure and function
stability of weak interaction structure - Correct answer-individually weak,
collectively strong.
- most stable macromolecules maximize weak interactions.
what is the pH of [H+]? - Correct answer-pH = -log[H+]
how to predict ionization of Henderson-Hasselbach equation - Correct answer-can
predict overall charge of a molecule
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation - Correct answer-pH = pKa + log [A-]/[HA]
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
