Question 1

Which property of water is primarily responsible for the maintenance of homeostatic body temperature in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Water's high specific heat capacity

Question 2

A scientist is studying a molecule that is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. Which class of macromolecule does this molecule most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrate

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why ice floats on liquid water?

Accepted Answer

Ice is less dense than liquid water due to the hydrogen bonds forming a lattice structure.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes a dehydration synthesis reaction?

Accepted Answer

A reaction that joins two monomers by removing a molecule of water.

Question 5

A biologist adds a drop of oil to a beaker of water. The oil does not dissolve and forms a separate layer. Which property of lipids does this demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about DNA and RNA is correct?

Accepted Answer

DNA is typically double-stranded, while RNA is typically single-stranded.

Question 7

A protein is denatured by exposure to high heat. Which level(s) of protein structure are most likely disrupted?

Accepted Answer

Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the role of phospholipids in biological membranes?

Accepted Answer

They form a bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing inward and hydrophilic heads facing outward.

Question 9

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a nitrogenous base in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Cytosine pairs with guanine

Question 10

A student is given the following chemical formula: $$C_{6}H$$_{12}$$O_{6}$. Which type of molecule is this most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A monosaccharide

Question 11

Which of the following functional groups is found in all amino acids?

Accepted Answer

A carboxyl group ($$-COOH)$$

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature while unsaturated fatty acids are liquid?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, allowing them to pack closely together.

Question 13

A hydrolysis reaction is used to break down a polysaccharide into its monomers. Which molecule is required for this reaction?

Accepted Answer

Water

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the primary structure of a protein?

Accepted Answer

The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain

Question 15

Which of the following statements about macromolecules is correct?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrates are made of monosaccharides.

Question 16

A mutation changes a single amino acid in the active site of an enzyme. Which level of protein structure is directly affected by this mutation?

Accepted Answer

Primary structure

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the difference between a polypeptide and a protein?

Accepted Answer

A protein is a functional molecule that may consist of one or more polypeptides.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the function of cellulose in plants?

Accepted Answer

Structural support in cell walls

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct description of a phosphodiester bond?

Accepted Answer

A bond that links nucleotides in a nucleic acid

Question 20

A patient is diagnosed with a genetic disorder that affects the formation of hydrogen bonds in DNA. Which process is most likely to be directly impacted?

Accepted Answer

The separation of DNA strands during replication

General Biology: Biomolecules and the Chemistry of Life - Study Notes

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