Biomolecules and the Chemistry of Life Quizzes

Think you’ve got your head wrapped around Biomolecules and the Chemistry of Life? Put your knowledge to the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. An element’s atomic number tells you


how many neutrons are contained in the nucleus.
how many protons are contained in the nucleus.
the total number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus.
the total number of protons plus neutrons plus electrons.
the total mass of the nucleus.
Q. Lithium is a relatively small atom; its atomic number is 3, and it has three electrons. Two of those electrons are in the first electron shell, which holds a maximum of two electrons, and the last electron is alone in the next shell, which can hold a maximum of eight electrons. If lithium becomes an ion, it is most likely to become


Li+.
Li2+.
Li-.
Li2-.
Li7-.
Q. When two or more atoms bind by sharing electrons equally, we call it a(n)


hydrogen bond.
ionic bond.
nonpolar ionic bond.
nonpolar covalent bond.
electrical attraction.
Q. Water is a good solvent because


it is polar.
it surrounds polar substances and ions and pulls them away from each other.
it is attracted to hydrophobic substances.
of both options 1 and 2.
of options 1, 2, and 3.
Q. Usually, the solid phase of a substance is ______ dense than the liquid phase. Water is _______ dense than ice.


more; more
more; less
less; less
less; more
equally as; equally as
Q. Carbon is the basis for life forms on Earth because


it is the most abundant element.
it combines with oxygen to form CO2.
it can form four bonds, thereby giving rise to a diverse array of molecules.
it forms polar bonds.
it has several different isotopes.
Q. Starch is a(n) _______ storage polysaccharide and is ___________, whereas glycogen is a(n) _______ storage polysaccharide and is ___________.


animal; unbranched; plant; branched
plant; branched or unbranched; animal; branched
plant; branched; animal; branched
animal; branched; plant; branched or unbranched
plant; unbranched; animal; branched or unbranched
Q. All lipids have the following trait(s) in common:


they are hydrophobic.
they contain stretches of carbons and hydrogens.
they are all used for energy storage.
both options 1 and 2.
both options 1 and 3.
Q. The quaternary structure of a protein is


3D protein subunits fitting together to work as a whole.
a string of amino acids forming a polypeptide chain.
the polypeptide folding due to bonds between R groups.
the polypeptide folding due to bonds between carbons and hydrogens.
the way protein can be used to create processed meat products like SPAM.
Q. Nucleotides are made up of


a sugar.
a phosphate group.
a nitrogen-containing base.
both options 2 and 3.
options 1, 2, and 3.