29 Questions
What percentage of the dry weight of the human body is accounted for by the elements C, H, O, N, P, Ca, and S?
97%
What is the approximate percentage of water in the human body?
70%
What was the purpose of the Miller Urey experiment?
To study the atmosphere of the early earth
What were the reactants used in the Miller Urey experiment?
H2O, CH4, NH3, and H2
What is the significance of the elements B, F, Al, Si, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Mo, Cd, I, and W in living organisms?
They are present in trace amounts in some organisms
What was the outcome of the Miller Urey experiment?
The suggestion of precursors of early biomolecules
What is a major advantage of compartmentalization in cells?
Maintaining high local concentrations of reactants
What is a characteristic of prokaryotes?
Having varied and adaptable metabolisms
What is the range of sizes for prokaryotes?
1-10 μm
What is a characteristic of eukaryotes?
Having a nucleus and membrane-bounded organelles
Why are prokaryotes the most numerous and widespread organisms on earth?
Because they have varied and adaptable metabolisms
What is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
The presence of a nucleus
What is the main reason why traditional taxonomic schemes are inadequate to describe the relationships between organisms?
They do not take into account the evolutionary history of organisms
What is the term for the study of energy and its effects on matter?
Thermodynamics
What is the main purpose of understanding thermodynamics in the context of biochemical systems?
To predict whether a biochemical reaction can occur spontaneously
What is the term for the part of the universe that is of interest in a thermodynamic system?
System
What is the term for the amount of energy in a thermodynamic system?
U
What is the relationship between enthalpy and heat in most biochemical systems?
Enthalpy is equivalent to heat
What is the primary characteristic of spontaneous processes according to the second law of thermodynamics?
a conversion of order to disorder
What is the result of opening the stopcock in the entropy illustration?
The entropy increases as the gas molecules diffuse back and forth between the bulbs
What determines the free energy change for a process?
The changes in both enthalpy and entropy
What is the characteristic of a process with a negative ΔG value?
It is spontaneous and exergonic
What is the standard state condition defined by biochemists for temperature?
25°C
What is the assigned value of the activity of pure water in standard state conditions?
1
What is the primary reason for the formation of a 'cage' around the nonpolar solute by water molecules?
To minimize the surface area of the cavity and maximize entropy
What is the result of the aggregation of nonpolar groups in an aqueous phase?
They are squeezed out of the aqueous phase
What is the direction of water movement in osmosis?
From a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration
What is the purpose of a semipermeable membrane in osmosis?
To permit the passage of water molecules but not solutes
What is the driving force behind the movement of water in osmosis?
The tendency to equalize concentrations
Explore the fundamentals of life's chemistry, including the origin of life, biological molecules, and the elements that make up living organisms.
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