Exploring the Chemistry of Life in AP Biology

Why is water considered extremely important for life?

• All of the above.

• It is a universal solvent.

• It makes up 70% of the human body.

• It has a high specific heat.

What is the primary reason for water's unique properties?

• Its color

• Hydrogen bonding

• Its molecular weight

• Its density

What defines an element on the periodic table?

• The number of protons

• The number of electrons

• The atomic mass

• The number of neutrons

Why is carbon considered special in organic chemistry?

• It is the most abundant element.

• It is the heaviest element.

• It forms four strong bonds.

• It does not form bonds.

Which functional group is known for forming disulfide bonds?

• Methyl

• Sulfhydryl

• Hydroxyl

• Phosphate

What type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?

• Ionic bond

• Covalent bond

• Van der Waals forces

• Hydrogen bond

What are the building blocks of proteins?

• Nucleotides

• Amino acids

• Fatty acids

• Monosaccharides

Which type of macromolecule is primarily hydrophobic?

• Nucleic acids

• Carbohydrates

• Proteins

• Lipids

What is the main structural difference between DNA and RNA?

• DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded.

• DNA contains uracil, RNA contains thymine.

• DNA is single-stranded, RNA is double-stranded.

• DNA is made of ribose sugar, RNA is made of deoxyribose sugar.

Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not in DNA?

• Thymine

• Cytosine

• Adenine

• Uracil