CHEM 210 Biochemistry Module 1 to 8 Exams & Final
Exam 2026 | Questions with Answers & Detailed
Explanations | Portage Learning | Latest Version
Description
Complete CHEM 210 Biochemistry Module 1–8 Exams & Final Exam 2026 preparation guide
containing 150 multiple-choice practice questions with verified answers and detailed explanations
in italic.
This comprehensive study resource covers all essential topics from the CHEM 210 Biochemistry course at
Portage Learning/Geneva College :
✅ Module 1: Introduction to Biochemistry – Carbon properties, bulk elements (C, H, O, N), functional
groups (carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, carbonyl, phosphate, thiol, amide), prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells,
organelles, non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, ionic, Van der Waals), condensed vs Kekulé
structures, supramolecular complexes, definitions of biochemistry, inorganic vs organic chemistry
✅ Module 2: Water, pH & Buffers – pH calculations (pH = -log[H⁺]), pKa and Ka calculations,
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, water properties (high specific heat, high surface tension, universal
solvent), hydrogen bonding, bond angle of water (104.5°), hydrophobic effect, buffer systems (bicarbonate
buffer), free energy (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS), spontaneity, exergonic vs endergonic reactions
✅ Module 3: Proteins & Amino Acids – 20 standard amino acids, peptide bonds,
primary/secondary/tertiary/quaternary structure, alpha-helices (i → i+4 hydrogen bonding), beta-sheets,
beta-turns, disulfide bonds, zwitterions, chiral carbon, enzyme-substrate interactions, competitive vs
,noncompetitive inhibition, holoenzyme vs apoenzyme, induced fit model, UV absorbance at 280 nm
(tryptophan), serine vs threonine (no sulfur), cysteine and methionine (sulfur-containing)
✅ Module 4: Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, ribose), aldoses vs ketoses,
epimers, anomers, disaccharides (maltose, sucrose), polysaccharides (glycogen, starch, cellulose, chitin),
alpha 1→4 vs alpha 1→6 linkages, glycosidic bonds, reducing sugars (glucose) vs non-reducing sugars
(sucrose)
✅ Module 5: Lipids – Fatty acids (saturated vs unsaturated, PUFAs), triacylglycerols (ester bonds),
phospholipids, sphingolipids (ceramide, blood type determination, myelin sheaths), cholesterol, carotenoids
(UV protection), isoprene units, membrane proteins (integral vs peripheral), lipid functions
✅ Module 6: Nucleic Acids – DNA (A-T, G-C), RNA (A-U, G-C), nucleotides, purines vs pyrimidines,
DNA replication (helicase, DNA polymerase), transcription (RNA polymerase), translation, central dogma,
second messengers (cAMP), ATP as nucleotide
✅ Module 7: Metabolism & Bioenergetics – Glycolysis (10 steps, 2 ATP net, 2 ATP invested,
preparatory and payoff phases), citric acid cycle (acetyl-CoA, CO₂, NADH, FADH₂, GTP), electron
transport chain (Complex I-IV, ATP synthase), oxidative phosphorylation, FADH₂ vs NADH energy yield,
flux, anabolic vs catabolic pathways, ΔG spontaneity
✅ Module 8: Advanced Metabolism – Urea cycle (converts ammonia to urea, consumes 4 ATP), fatty
acid synthesis (malonyl-CoA), ketogenesis, carnitine transport, feedback control, PCR, zymogen activation,
allosteric enzymes, isoelectric point
📚 SECTION 1: MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY (Questions 1–25)
, 1. Which of the following best defines biochemistry?
A) The study of chemical reactions in nonliving systems
B) The study of the chemical processes within and relating to living organisms
C) The study of the structure of inorganic compounds
D) The study of physical properties of gases
Answer: B
Explanation: Biochemistry, often referred to as the chemistry of life, focuses on the chemical
processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It asks how the remarkable
properties of organisms relate to their molecules, studying structure-function relationships,
metabolism, and communication within and among organisms .
2. Which element is considered the basis of life and can form long chains, rings, and
multiple bonds?
A) Hydrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Carbon
D) Nitrogen
Answer: C
Explanation: Carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four stable covalent
bonds, including single, double, and triple bonds. It can form long chains (polymers), cyclic
structures, and bonds with many other atoms, making it the backbone of all organic
molecules in biochemistry .
, 3. What are the four most abundant elements found in living organisms?
A) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen
B) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sodium
C) Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus
D) Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur
Answer: A
Explanation: These four elements (CHON) make up approximately 96% of the mass of most
living organisms. They are considered "bulk elements" and form the backbone of all major
biomolecules: carbohydrates (C, H, O), proteins (C, H, O, N, S), lipids (C, H, O), and nucleic
acids (C, H, O, N, P) .
4. Which element is NOT typically found in living organisms?
A) Nitrogen (N)
B) Hydrogen (H)
C) Helium (He)
D) Oxygen (O)
Answer: C
Explanation: Helium is a noble gas and is chemically inert, meaning it does not readily
participate in biological chemical reactions. Therefore, it is not typically found in living
organisms .
Exam 2026 | Questions with Answers & Detailed
Explanations | Portage Learning | Latest Version
Description
Complete CHEM 210 Biochemistry Module 1–8 Exams & Final Exam 2026 preparation guide
containing 150 multiple-choice practice questions with verified answers and detailed explanations
in italic.
This comprehensive study resource covers all essential topics from the CHEM 210 Biochemistry course at
Portage Learning/Geneva College :
✅ Module 1: Introduction to Biochemistry – Carbon properties, bulk elements (C, H, O, N), functional
groups (carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, carbonyl, phosphate, thiol, amide), prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells,
organelles, non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, ionic, Van der Waals), condensed vs Kekulé
structures, supramolecular complexes, definitions of biochemistry, inorganic vs organic chemistry
✅ Module 2: Water, pH & Buffers – pH calculations (pH = -log[H⁺]), pKa and Ka calculations,
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, water properties (high specific heat, high surface tension, universal
solvent), hydrogen bonding, bond angle of water (104.5°), hydrophobic effect, buffer systems (bicarbonate
buffer), free energy (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS), spontaneity, exergonic vs endergonic reactions
✅ Module 3: Proteins & Amino Acids – 20 standard amino acids, peptide bonds,
primary/secondary/tertiary/quaternary structure, alpha-helices (i → i+4 hydrogen bonding), beta-sheets,
beta-turns, disulfide bonds, zwitterions, chiral carbon, enzyme-substrate interactions, competitive vs
,noncompetitive inhibition, holoenzyme vs apoenzyme, induced fit model, UV absorbance at 280 nm
(tryptophan), serine vs threonine (no sulfur), cysteine and methionine (sulfur-containing)
✅ Module 4: Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, ribose), aldoses vs ketoses,
epimers, anomers, disaccharides (maltose, sucrose), polysaccharides (glycogen, starch, cellulose, chitin),
alpha 1→4 vs alpha 1→6 linkages, glycosidic bonds, reducing sugars (glucose) vs non-reducing sugars
(sucrose)
✅ Module 5: Lipids – Fatty acids (saturated vs unsaturated, PUFAs), triacylglycerols (ester bonds),
phospholipids, sphingolipids (ceramide, blood type determination, myelin sheaths), cholesterol, carotenoids
(UV protection), isoprene units, membrane proteins (integral vs peripheral), lipid functions
✅ Module 6: Nucleic Acids – DNA (A-T, G-C), RNA (A-U, G-C), nucleotides, purines vs pyrimidines,
DNA replication (helicase, DNA polymerase), transcription (RNA polymerase), translation, central dogma,
second messengers (cAMP), ATP as nucleotide
✅ Module 7: Metabolism & Bioenergetics – Glycolysis (10 steps, 2 ATP net, 2 ATP invested,
preparatory and payoff phases), citric acid cycle (acetyl-CoA, CO₂, NADH, FADH₂, GTP), electron
transport chain (Complex I-IV, ATP synthase), oxidative phosphorylation, FADH₂ vs NADH energy yield,
flux, anabolic vs catabolic pathways, ΔG spontaneity
✅ Module 8: Advanced Metabolism – Urea cycle (converts ammonia to urea, consumes 4 ATP), fatty
acid synthesis (malonyl-CoA), ketogenesis, carnitine transport, feedback control, PCR, zymogen activation,
allosteric enzymes, isoelectric point
📚 SECTION 1: MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY (Questions 1–25)
, 1. Which of the following best defines biochemistry?
A) The study of chemical reactions in nonliving systems
B) The study of the chemical processes within and relating to living organisms
C) The study of the structure of inorganic compounds
D) The study of physical properties of gases
Answer: B
Explanation: Biochemistry, often referred to as the chemistry of life, focuses on the chemical
processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It asks how the remarkable
properties of organisms relate to their molecules, studying structure-function relationships,
metabolism, and communication within and among organisms .
2. Which element is considered the basis of life and can form long chains, rings, and
multiple bonds?
A) Hydrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Carbon
D) Nitrogen
Answer: C
Explanation: Carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four stable covalent
bonds, including single, double, and triple bonds. It can form long chains (polymers), cyclic
structures, and bonds with many other atoms, making it the backbone of all organic
molecules in biochemistry .
, 3. What are the four most abundant elements found in living organisms?
A) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen
B) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sodium
C) Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus
D) Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur
Answer: A
Explanation: These four elements (CHON) make up approximately 96% of the mass of most
living organisms. They are considered "bulk elements" and form the backbone of all major
biomolecules: carbohydrates (C, H, O), proteins (C, H, O, N, S), lipids (C, H, O), and nucleic
acids (C, H, O, N, P) .
4. Which element is NOT typically found in living organisms?
A) Nitrogen (N)
B) Hydrogen (H)
C) Helium (He)
D) Oxygen (O)
Answer: C
Explanation: Helium is a noble gas and is chemically inert, meaning it does not readily
participate in biological chemical reactions. Therefore, it is not typically found in living
organisms .
