BISC 131 Lab Final Exam Questions and
Answers
spectrophotometer - Answer -instrument that measures the proportions of light of
different wavelengths absorbed and transmitted by a pigment solution
pH meter - Answer -instrument that measures pH
graduated cylinder - Answer -instrument used to measure volume of a liquid
beaker - Answer -used to store, heat, and cool liquids
flask - Answer -used to heat, cool, and mix liquids
observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment - Answer -5 step to the
scientific method
observation - Answer -a detailed, critical examination of some aspect of the natural
world
question - Answer -asks "Why?" or "How?" of the process observed
hypothesis - Answer -a proposed explanation regarding a process or phenomena of the
natural world
prediction - Answer -an "if ..., then ..." statement related to the hypothesis; proposes an
experiment and predicts what the outcome will be
experiment - Answer -designed to carry out the prediction and to test the hypothesis
sample size - Answer -the number of events or individuals observed in a subset
sampling error - Answer -the difference between the results from sampling ALL events
or individuals and results from sampling of that group
when sample size is small, sampling error is high and vise versa - Answer -What is the
relationship between sample size and sampling error?
variables - Answer -factors in the experiment that can be changed
, control variables - Answer -variables that are controlled by the experimenter
experimental variable - Answer -the factor in the experiment that the experimenter is
purposefully changing
experiemental group - Answer -the group of samples in which the effect is not known
negative control group - Answer -the group of samples in which an effect is NOT
expected
positive control group - Answer -the group of samples in which an effect is known and
expected
pollution - Answer -the introduction of any contaminant to a natural environment which
has a negative effect on the organisms living there
Sodium chloride (salt) will inhibit the growth of Ankistrodesmus algae.
or
Miracle-Gro (fertilizer) will inhibit the growth of Ankistrodesmus algae. - Answer -What
were the 2 possible hypotheses in our lab on environmental pollution?
light exposure, time, total volume in tubes, amount of Ankistrodesmus culture solution -
Answer -What were some of the control variables in our lab on environmental pollution?
ratio of salt/Miracle-Gro to AlgaGro - Answer -What was the experimental variable in our
lab on environmental pollution?
two tubes with 0% pollution were prepared to see the algae grow with no inhibition -
Answer -Explain the negative control group in our lab on environmental pollution.
it is a solution of nutrients that helps algae grow - Answer -What is the function of the
AlgaGro reagent in our lab on environmental pollution?
Ankistrodesmus - Answer -What organism was used in our lab on environmental
pollution?
spectrophotometer - Answer -How was growth of ankistrodesmus measured in our lab
on environmental pollution?
diffusion - Answer -the process by which molecules dissolved in a fluid move until their
distribution in the fluid is uniform
solvent - Answer -a liquid in which things are dissolved
solute - Answer -a molecule that is dissolved in a solvent
Answers
spectrophotometer - Answer -instrument that measures the proportions of light of
different wavelengths absorbed and transmitted by a pigment solution
pH meter - Answer -instrument that measures pH
graduated cylinder - Answer -instrument used to measure volume of a liquid
beaker - Answer -used to store, heat, and cool liquids
flask - Answer -used to heat, cool, and mix liquids
observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment - Answer -5 step to the
scientific method
observation - Answer -a detailed, critical examination of some aspect of the natural
world
question - Answer -asks "Why?" or "How?" of the process observed
hypothesis - Answer -a proposed explanation regarding a process or phenomena of the
natural world
prediction - Answer -an "if ..., then ..." statement related to the hypothesis; proposes an
experiment and predicts what the outcome will be
experiment - Answer -designed to carry out the prediction and to test the hypothesis
sample size - Answer -the number of events or individuals observed in a subset
sampling error - Answer -the difference between the results from sampling ALL events
or individuals and results from sampling of that group
when sample size is small, sampling error is high and vise versa - Answer -What is the
relationship between sample size and sampling error?
variables - Answer -factors in the experiment that can be changed
, control variables - Answer -variables that are controlled by the experimenter
experimental variable - Answer -the factor in the experiment that the experimenter is
purposefully changing
experiemental group - Answer -the group of samples in which the effect is not known
negative control group - Answer -the group of samples in which an effect is NOT
expected
positive control group - Answer -the group of samples in which an effect is known and
expected
pollution - Answer -the introduction of any contaminant to a natural environment which
has a negative effect on the organisms living there
Sodium chloride (salt) will inhibit the growth of Ankistrodesmus algae.
or
Miracle-Gro (fertilizer) will inhibit the growth of Ankistrodesmus algae. - Answer -What
were the 2 possible hypotheses in our lab on environmental pollution?
light exposure, time, total volume in tubes, amount of Ankistrodesmus culture solution -
Answer -What were some of the control variables in our lab on environmental pollution?
ratio of salt/Miracle-Gro to AlgaGro - Answer -What was the experimental variable in our
lab on environmental pollution?
two tubes with 0% pollution were prepared to see the algae grow with no inhibition -
Answer -Explain the negative control group in our lab on environmental pollution.
it is a solution of nutrients that helps algae grow - Answer -What is the function of the
AlgaGro reagent in our lab on environmental pollution?
Ankistrodesmus - Answer -What organism was used in our lab on environmental
pollution?
spectrophotometer - Answer -How was growth of ankistrodesmus measured in our lab
on environmental pollution?
diffusion - Answer -the process by which molecules dissolved in a fluid move until their
distribution in the fluid is uniform
solvent - Answer -a liquid in which things are dissolved
solute - Answer -a molecule that is dissolved in a solvent