Study Guide Biology 1408 Exam 1
Doing the Mastering Biology assignments will help you for the Exam. Yes, it may be cheesy, bothersome and time-consuming. But it is part of this course. Your reward for doing the work is a) 40% of your lecture grade b) it gets you prepared for Exam 1 and c) you will expand your knowledge. Not much in life comes for free. Mastering Biology only requires a positive attitude and effort.
Below is an additional study guide. Use your notes, your textbook and these questions to study with. Answer the questions by writing them out to the fullest. Imagine getting 2 questions on your exam per item; that makes 62 questions. So expect about that much. IN addition, you textbook has questions on each page below a paragraph , marked with a big gray question mark. Try to answer them before peeking at the answers. Finally, at the end of each chapter are questions and problems as well; work them. You need to be prepared do to well. So start studying tonight and every night after that. The number one reason for not doing well is because students forget to study (which is not the same as looking at the pictures in your textbook).
1. What is the definition of biology ? What are the characteristics that define life ?
2. What is the organization of biological life when going from the smallest ( molecules, atoms) to the largest aspect (planet earth).
3. Related to question 2, what are the differences between an organelle and an organ ? Between a population, a community, an ecosystem ?
4. What is/are the difference(s) between an eukaryotic cell and a prokaryotic cell ?
5. What is the difference between taxonomy and systematics ? Who is the so called “father” of taxonomy ? What are the parts of the scientific name of a species called ?
6. What are the 3 domains of life ? What organisms belong to these 3 domains ? What subdivision do we have within the Eukarya ?
7. What is a hypotheses ? What are the different steps in the scientific method ?
8. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data ?
9. What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning ? Where do we use these latter two when dealing with the scientific method ?
10. How is a (scientific) theory different from a hypothesis ?
11. What is the basic organization of an atom ? What are the 3 main sub-atomic particles and where do we find them in an atom ?
12. What part of an atom is used to group them within the periodic table of the elements ? What is the atomic weight of an atom ?
13. What do all atoms in the first column of the periodic table have in common ? In the second column ?
14. What elements (atoms) make up 96 % of the human body ? What are trace elements ? What are isotopes ?
15. What are molecules ? What part of an atom “reacts” when taking part in the making of a molecule ( they strive towards a ….. ) ?
16. What are the 3 types of chemical bonds ?
17. How do you make a salt ? What kind of bond exists between salts ? Can you provide me with 4 simple salts and their chemical formula that we discussed in class ?
18. What happens to the electrons in the making of a salt ? So what happens to the charge of each atom ? What do we call a positively or negatively charged element ?
19. What is a covalent bond ? How many covalent bonds can Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon make ?
20. What is a polar covalent bond ? Why is water a polar molecule ? And how do hydrogen bonds form ? How are water molecules arranged when lots of them interact in a fluid ?
21. What are the properties of water that makes it the perfect solvent for life to develop in/with ?
22. Of the 3 kinds of bonds between atoms, which is the strongest; which is the weakest ?
23. What is an acid, what is a base ?
24. Why do we use the concept of pH ? What is the range of the pH scale ?
25. What value indicates a chemical neutral pH, acidic pH, basic pH ? What does it mean when they say the pH unit is a 10-fold change ?
26. What is the purpose of a buffer ? Why would hydrochloric acid not be a buffer ? What is the problem with changes in pH for human life/ animal and plant life ?