AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
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In the chromatography of the reaction mixture, water
absorbed on cellulose functioned as the stationary phase.
What was the principal factor determining the migration of
individual components in the sample?
A) Hydrogen bonding
B) Solute concentration
C) Stationary phase concentration
D) Thickness of paper - Correct Answers ✅A) Hydrogen
bonding
The answer to this question is A because the relative amount
of hydrogen bonding to the stationary phase will determine
the relative rate of migration of the various components in
the sample.
What assumption is being made if scientists conclude that
aspartic acid was formed by the prebiological synthesis in the
passage?
A) Aspartic acid is unstable at temperatures below 150
degrees C.
B) All of the malic acid underwent the dehydration reaction to
form fumaric/maleic acid.
,AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
C) Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive
Earth.
D) The reaction between ammonia and fumaric acid was
catalyzed by the presence of water. - Correct Answers ✅C)
Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive Earth.
he answer to this question is C since, in order for the
experimental reaction sequence to be relevant to the
primordial formation of aspartic acid, the starting materials
used (Compound A and cyanide) are assumed to have been
available.
According to the developed chromatography plate shown
below, what is the approximate Rf value of aspartic acid?
aspartic acid = 2
solvent front = 10
A) 0.20
B) 0.50
C) 5
D) 10 - Correct Answers ✅The answer to this question is A
(0.20) because Rf is the ratio of the distance travelled by the
analyte relative to the solvent front during a chromatographic
separation. Aspartic acid travelled two units, while the
,AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
solvent front travelled ten units, giving an Rf of 2/10 = 0.20
for aspartic acid.
Which of the following statements does NOT correctly
describe the dehydration of malic acid to fumaric acid and
maleic acid?
A) The reaction occurs most readily with tertiary alcohols.
B) The reaction involves the loss of a water molecule.
C) The reaction has a carbocation intermediate.
D) The reaction is stereospecific. - Correct Answers ✅D)
The reaction is stereospecific.
The answer to this question is D because the fact that both
fumaric and maleic acid are produced means that the
dehydration of malic acid is NOT stereospecific.
What type of functional group is formed when aspartic acid
reacts with another amino acid to form a peptide bond?
A) An amine group
B) An aldehyde group
C) An amide group
D) A carboxyl group - Correct Answers ✅C) An amide group
, AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
The answer to this question is C because the functional group
that forms during peptide bond formation is known as an
amide group.
If 2-pentanol replaces 1-pentanol in the reaction shown in
Figure 3 (SN2), the rate of substitution is less because:
A) the C-O bond in 2-pentanol is stronger than the C-O bond
in 1-pentanol.
B) there is a competing elimination reaction that slows the
rate of substitution.
C) there is more steric hindrance at the oxygen atom in 2-
pentanol than in 1-pentanol, making protonation less likely.
D) there is more steric hindrance at the 2-position of 2-
pentanol than at the 1-position of 1-pentanol. - Correct
Answers ✅D) there is more steric hindrance at the 2-
position of 2-pentanol than at the 1-position of 1-pentanol.
The answer to this question is D because the rate of
substitution of protonated alcohols is subject to steric
hindrance. This inhibits the ability of nucleophiles to collide
with the reacting electrophilic center and slows the rate of
reaction.
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
In the chromatography of the reaction mixture, water
absorbed on cellulose functioned as the stationary phase.
What was the principal factor determining the migration of
individual components in the sample?
A) Hydrogen bonding
B) Solute concentration
C) Stationary phase concentration
D) Thickness of paper - Correct Answers ✅A) Hydrogen
bonding
The answer to this question is A because the relative amount
of hydrogen bonding to the stationary phase will determine
the relative rate of migration of the various components in
the sample.
What assumption is being made if scientists conclude that
aspartic acid was formed by the prebiological synthesis in the
passage?
A) Aspartic acid is unstable at temperatures below 150
degrees C.
B) All of the malic acid underwent the dehydration reaction to
form fumaric/maleic acid.
,AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
C) Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive
Earth.
D) The reaction between ammonia and fumaric acid was
catalyzed by the presence of water. - Correct Answers ✅C)
Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive Earth.
he answer to this question is C since, in order for the
experimental reaction sequence to be relevant to the
primordial formation of aspartic acid, the starting materials
used (Compound A and cyanide) are assumed to have been
available.
According to the developed chromatography plate shown
below, what is the approximate Rf value of aspartic acid?
aspartic acid = 2
solvent front = 10
A) 0.20
B) 0.50
C) 5
D) 10 - Correct Answers ✅The answer to this question is A
(0.20) because Rf is the ratio of the distance travelled by the
analyte relative to the solvent front during a chromatographic
separation. Aspartic acid travelled two units, while the
,AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
solvent front travelled ten units, giving an Rf of 2/10 = 0.20
for aspartic acid.
Which of the following statements does NOT correctly
describe the dehydration of malic acid to fumaric acid and
maleic acid?
A) The reaction occurs most readily with tertiary alcohols.
B) The reaction involves the loss of a water molecule.
C) The reaction has a carbocation intermediate.
D) The reaction is stereospecific. - Correct Answers ✅D)
The reaction is stereospecific.
The answer to this question is D because the fact that both
fumaric and maleic acid are produced means that the
dehydration of malic acid is NOT stereospecific.
What type of functional group is formed when aspartic acid
reacts with another amino acid to form a peptide bond?
A) An amine group
B) An aldehyde group
C) An amide group
D) A carboxyl group - Correct Answers ✅C) An amide group
, AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1 Verified
Solutions for Final Exams, Top Grade
Assurance 2026
The answer to this question is C because the functional group
that forms during peptide bond formation is known as an
amide group.
If 2-pentanol replaces 1-pentanol in the reaction shown in
Figure 3 (SN2), the rate of substitution is less because:
A) the C-O bond in 2-pentanol is stronger than the C-O bond
in 1-pentanol.
B) there is a competing elimination reaction that slows the
rate of substitution.
C) there is more steric hindrance at the oxygen atom in 2-
pentanol than in 1-pentanol, making protonation less likely.
D) there is more steric hindrance at the 2-position of 2-
pentanol than at the 1-position of 1-pentanol. - Correct
Answers ✅D) there is more steric hindrance at the 2-
position of 2-pentanol than at the 1-position of 1-pentanol.
The answer to this question is D because the rate of
substitution of protonated alcohols is subject to steric
hindrance. This inhibits the ability of nucleophiles to collide
with the reacting electrophilic center and slows the rate of
reaction.
