NAME:...............................................................

ESSENTIAL FIRST CHEMISTRY FOR BIOLOGY

FIRST QUIZ
Answer all the questions, as best you can, in the spaces provided.
There are 46 marks available

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

1
1.a

Organic v inorganic
Underline which of the compounds below are organic.

Carbon dioxide CO2 Methane CH4

Calcium carbonate CaCO3

Water H2O

Glucose C6H12O6

Haemoglobin C2952H4664O832N812S8Fe4

1.b Explain in a few words how you have decided which are the organic
compounds:

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2
Atoms (Fill in the answers beside the numbers under the text)
All matter is made up of (1) which, in turn, are made up of three sub-atomic
particles (2) and (3)
(which form the nucleus) and (4) which orbit around the nucleus. (5) have no
charge, (6) have a
positive charge, and (7) have a negative charge. Atoms contain equal numbers of
(8) and (9),
so they have no overall charge.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
[9]

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

3
Occurrence of chemical elements in the body
From the following list of elements, select the four which you think comprise the
greatest percentage of the mass of a typical animal. Write the four in the
appropriate place in the table below.
CALCIUM; CARBON; CHLORINE; HYDROGEN; IRON; NITROGEN; OXYGEN;
PHOSPHOROUS; POTASSIUM; SULPHUR
63%
19%
10%
4%
2%
]

[6

4
Ions
Name one common biological CATION, and one common biological ANION. One of
the two should be a group of atoms, and the other a single atom. Show clearly the
charge associated with each ion.
CATION
ANION

[3
]

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

5
Acids, Bases and Buffers
5.a pH
The pH value for a chemical, which is a measure of acidity, is derived from the
concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The scale runs from pH 1 to pH 14.
Write the following 7 liquids along-side the pH range written below, to show what
you think are their approximate pH values:
ACID RAIN; BEER; BLOOD; FRESH (PURE) WATER; SALIVA; SEA WATER;
STOMACH ACID
pH ranges
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
[7]
5.b (Organic) acids in solution
R-COOH is how organic acids are often represented. The organic acid group is the
COOH and is called carboxylic acid; R means whatever else is tacked on to the
acid group. Ethanoic acid is the simplest organic acid and is shown below; the R
group is thus CH3 and bonds with the acid group.

When an acid group

(ie COOH) is in solution, it dissociates into
a base and proton.
Using the simple diagram below, describe
what happens when the acid group -COOH is in solution.
-COOH
[3]
(acid)

..
(base)

...
(proton)

5.c pH problems
Living organisms can usually only thrive in a very narrow range of pH. Name any
one natural environment, where there is a fluctuating pH, which therefore might be
extremely difficult for the survival of any organisms which live there.
[1]
6

Isotopes

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

Iodine is absorbed by the thyroid gland (to make thyroxine). A radio-active form of
Iodine, known as iodine 131 is absorbed especially by any cancerous cells which
might be in the thyroid gland. Describe in the simplest of terms, just how this
information might be used and exploited to detect whether a patient has cancer or
not.

[2]

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

7
Chemical bonding
7.a Ionic Bonds
Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) are well known for forming stable crystals common
salt. The stability results from the formation of electrostatic, ionic bonds between
the atoms of Na and the atoms of Cl. Explain this phenomenon in terms of the
sodium or chlorine atoms gaining or losing electrons.

[2
]
7.b Covalent Bonds
Carbon is structurally the most important element in biology because of its ability to
form covalent bonds with other carbon atoms. Another extremely important
compound which is formed covalently is water, H2O, consisting of two atoms of
hydrogen and one of oxygen. Use only a diagram to show how water is formed
covalently.
Diagram:

[4]

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction

8
Some extra problems:
8.a Radio-activity
Radio-activity can be seen using photographic plates or film. What is it, which
comes from radio-active chemicals, which creates the image on the photographic
film ?

[1]
8.b

Hydrogen Bonds

When water forms, it is charged and is said to be polar, with a negative (the oxygen
atom) and a positive part (each of the hydrogen atoms) of the molecule. When two
water molecules get close to each other, they will tend to bond together. Millions of
water molecules, then, form droplets of water. What might you expect some of the
properties of water to be, which result from this multiple hydrogen bonding?

[<4]

Unit: Molecular biology, Introduction