Question 1

Which of the following statements best explains why water and oil do not mix when combined in a container?

Accepted Answer

Water is polar and oil is nonpolar, so water molecules interact with each other and exclude oil molecules due to hydrophobic interactions.

Question 2

A solution has a hydrogen ion concentration of $$1 	imes 10$$^{-6}$$ moles/liter. What is the pH of this solution?

Accepted Answer

$$pH = 6$$

Question 3

Which functional group is responsible for making a hydrocarbon more likely to interact with water?

Accepted Answer

Hydroxyl group

Question 4

If the pH of blood drops below 6.95, what is the most likely physiological consequence?

Accepted Answer

The person will go into a coma.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes a structural isomer?

Accepted Answer

Molecules with the same formula but different connectivity of atoms.

Question 6

What is the main reason carbon is able to form such a wide variety of organic molecules?

Accepted Answer

Carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four covalent bonds.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about acids and bases is correct?

Accepted Answer

An acid is a substance that can donate H$$^+$$ ions.

Question 8

A petunia flower has red vacuole contents. What does this indicate about the pH of the vacuole?

Accepted Answer

The vacuole is more acidic.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a cis-trans (geometric) isomer?

Accepted Answer

Isomers with atoms arranged differently around a double bond.

Question 10

What is the relationship between pH and hydrogen ion concentration?

Accepted Answer

pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: $$pH = -\log_{10}[H^+].$$

Question 11

Which functional group is most likely to donate a hydrogen ion (H$$^+) $$when dissolved in water, making the solution acidic?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyl group

Question 12

Why are hydrocarbons generally insoluble in water?

Accepted Answer

Hydrocarbons are nonpolar and water is polar, so hydrocarbons are hydrophobic.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about enantiomers?

Accepted Answer

They are mirror images of each other but not superimposable.

Question 14

A molecule contains a carbonyl group at the end of its carbon chain. What type of molecule is this?

Accepted Answer

Aldehyde

Question 15

If a solution has a pH of 13, how many times more basic is it than a solution with a pH of 11?

Accepted Answer

100 times

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the role of functional groups in organic molecules?

Accepted Answer

They determine the solubility and reactivity of the molecule.

Question 17

What is the effect of adding a hydroxyl group to a hydrocarbon?

Accepted Answer

It makes the hydrocarbon more likely to interact with water due to increased polarity.

Question 18

Which of the following molecules would be classified as a base?

Accepted Answer

A molecule that accepts H$$^+$$ ions.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct statement about the pH scale?

Accepted Answer

A solution with pH 7 has equal concentrations of H$$^+$$ and OH$$^-$$ ions.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a real-world application of isomers in biology?

Accepted Answer

The use of glucose and fructose in the liver for energy storage and conversion to fat.

General Biology: Acids, Bases, Carbon Chemistry, and Organic Molecules

Study Guide - Practice Questions