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Practice Questions on Lecture 2 (Redox, bonding, organic molecules, early earth)

1. The reaction A + B <-> C + D comes to a steady state at a point that favors products, C and D.
That is, [C]x[D] > [A]x[B]. Which of the following statements is correct?

a) The Keq is > 1.

b) The free energy change for the reaction as written (Go) is positive.
c) The activation energy is greater for the forward than for the reverse reaction.
d) The forward reaction rate will increase if you increase the concentrations of C and
D.
e) Both answers a and d are correct (above).

2. I once heard a guy say, all life runs by redox reactions.

Whats a redox reaction?

a) A reaction that involves repeated doxing.

b) A reaction in which electrons from one molecule are added to another.
c) A reaction involving oxygen.
d) A reaction in which a donor molecule releases electrons (and perhaps protons) into the
atmosphere.

3. When Pasteur disproved Spontaneous Generation the idea that full-blown cells could
arise from a wide variety of inorganic starting materials on todays earth -- biologists came
to believe in vitalism, that is, that only living things could make organic molecules. The
disproof of vitalism
a. -- was an experimental protocol that made organic molecules from simple precursors
using heat and electricity
b. -- has yet to be done, but is expected to result from data collected in outer space
c. -- is impossible to do experimentally, as living organisms interfere with all experimental
protocols
d. -- would invalidate the entire field of organic chemistry
e. -- is impossible, as scientists can never disprove an idea

4. What is getting oxidized in the equation shown below?

H2S + CO2 S + (CH2O) n
a, H2S
b. CO2
c. S
d. (CH2O) n
e. None of the above
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5. Geological data suggest that when life arose the earth was ----
A. ..waiting for the big bang.
B. ..cooling off from heavy meteorite bombardments.
C. ...lacking free oxygen in its atmosphere.
D. B and C are both true
E. A and C are both true

6. The following are all aspects of hydrogen. Which seems least relevant to the question of
lifes origins?
A. Lighter than air
B. Colorless odorless gas
C. Simplest element
D. Most abundant element -- Makes up 98% (with Helium) of the universe
E. Easily split to produce a proton and an electron
F.

Describe the standard (commonly found) bonding combinations seen in organic molecules. For
each element, give the number of bonds formed. (A = 1, B = 2, etc on your scantron!)
7. Oxygen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
8. Carbon Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
9 Hydrogen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
10. Nitrogen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5

11. In a redox reaction, one reactant gives up electrons and another reactant accepts the
electrons. What happens to the associated protons?
A. They may go along with the electron.
B. They may be picked up from solution, or dropped off in solution
C. Sometimes no protons are involved
D. They evaporate and are lost from the system
E. Three of the above are correct.

12. Covalent bonds are important in organic molecules found in living things and form
between the biological elements (H, C, N, P, S, O). Which of the following TWO
statements best describe these bonds. (FILL IN TWO BUBBLES)
a) These bonds are unique to living cells and are never found elsewhere.
b) These bonds involve two atoms sharing electrons.
c) Many molecules include these bonds, but in organic molecules
these bonds function in a way that is unique to living things.
d) These bonds are chemical phenomena that can occur with or without life.
e) The biological elements are the only ones that form covalent bonds.
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13. The earth is thought to have formed about 4.6 billion years ago and life is estimated
to have formed about 800 million years later. What major event was required
on earth before life could even start emerging?
a) The atmosphere had to acquire oxygen.
b) The planet had to cool down from its initial molten state.
c) The sun had to get strong enough to allow photosynthesis.
d) The biological elements (H, N, C, O, S, P) had to form by atomic fusion.
e) Redox chemistry had to evolve to allow chemical bonding.

14. Energy is released when a match ignites aviation fuel. Which of the following make this a
reasonable analogy to explain how life generates energy? (FILL IN TWO BUBBLES)
a) Both fuel ignition and life process involve redox chemistry.
b) Aviation fuel is derived from biological material deposited under ground as oil.
c) Aviation fuel is reasonably stable until it contacts the match resembling food
that is reasonably stable until catalyzed reactions release its energy
d) The loud noise and gas release resemble human digestion.
e) Aviation fuel can serve as fuel for almost all living things

15. Rank the following molecules on basis of their free energy or the amount of energy
theyd be able to release if oxidized.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

a) 2,3,1,5,4
b) 1,2,5,3,4
c) 5,1,4,2,3
d) 4,3,2,1,5
e) 3,5,1,2,4

16. In a redox reaction, electrons and protons are transferred from a donor
to an acceptor molecule. Which of the following statements is true?
(FILL IN TWO BUBBLES)
a) The oxidized molecule gives up electrons and the reduced molecule gains electrons.
b) Oxygen is always taken from the donor and given to the acceptor.
c) Oxidation can occur in reactions that involve no oxygen molecule.
d) The oxidized molecule receives electrons and the reduced molecule gives up
electrons.
e) In a redox reaction, electrons and protons move back and forth between the two
initial reactants.
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17. Life obtains its energy in many ways, but all involve redox reactions.
Which of the following best describes such a reaction?
a) A reaction that removes water from between two hydroxy (OH) groups or two
phosphate groups.
b) A reaction that involves removing electrons (often with protons) from a
donor
molecule and adding them to an acceptor molecule.
c) A reaction in which one molecule splits into two by the addition of water.
d) A reaction in which two molecules fuse to make something that is larger and
more energetic.
e) A reaction in which one molecule splits in two with loss of electrons and
protons.

18. The biological elements are those that predominate in living things (H, O, C, S, P, N).
These elements combine to form organic molecules that can be isolated from living
material. (Fill TWO BUBBLES that are correct statements regarding these elements
and molecules.)
a) Organic molecules can only be found in living things.
b) Organic molecules can be made outside living things.
c) The elements of life are among the most abundant elements in the
universe and can form many molecules that are not found in living organisms.
d) The finding of lifes elements and organic molecules in meteorites
demonstrates that life is present on other planets
e) While organic molecules can form abiotically, their interconversion (by
reaction pathways) is based on chemical principles that only operate in living
``tissue).

19. Covalent bonds are ones formed by sharing electrons between different atoms to
generate a stable configuration. Which TWO of the statements below are correct. (FILL
TWO BUBBLES)
a) Elements formed at the big bang have been reacting and rearranging to form more
stable molecular combinations ever since.
b) Metabolic pathways are reactions in which covalent bonds are broken and formed
(electron sharing rearranged) to produce different atomic combinations.
c) Some metabolic reactions involve nuclear fusion in which new elements are formed.
d) Metabolic reactions all involve transfer of electrons and protons from one
molecule (donor) to another (acceptor).
e) Covalent bonds are extremely stable and cannot break under normal laboratory
conditions or within a living cell.
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20. Ionization occurs when one molecule gives up an electron (to become positively
charged) and another accepts an electron (to become negatively charged). These
charged ions can be kept in aqueous solution due to one remarkable property of water.
(FILL ONE BUBBLE)
a) Water can itself ionize to form H+ and OH- ions.
b) Water is a product of many redox reactions.
c) The water molecule is polar with different partial charges (+/-) on opposite sides.
These partial charges associate with an ion to keep it in solution.
d) Ions are held in solution because the concentration of water is so high (55M).
e) Under rare circumstances with a very strong acceptor, water can serve as an
electron donor.

21. The biological elements are those that predominate in living things (H, O, C, S, P, N).
These elements combine to form organic molecules that can be isolated
from living material. (Fill TWO BUBBLES that are correct statements regarding
these elements and molecules.)
a) Organic molecules can only be found in living things.
b) Organic molecules can be made outside living things.
c) The elements of life are among the most abundant elements in the universe
and can form many molecules that are not found in living organisms.
d) The finding of lifes elements and organic molecules in meteorites
demonstrates that life is present on other planets
e) While organic molecules can form abiotically, their interconversion (by
reaction pathways) is based on chemical principles that only operate in
living tissue).

Life on earth was said to base its energy metabolism almost entirely on oxidation/reduction
(or redox) reactions in which electrons and protons (reducing equivalents) are transferred
from a donor to a recipient molecule. Consider the two compounds diagrammed below and
answer the following questions.

22 What is happening to compound A in this conversion? Pick TWO answers.

a) being oxidized
b) being reduced
c) cant tell without more information
d) donating electrons
e) accepting electrons
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23 If this conversion were occurring in a cell, what other metabolite would you expect to be
involved in the rightward reaction? (Pick TWO that together answer the question)
a) an electron acceptor
b) an electron donor
c) NADH or NADPH
d) NAD or NADP
e) ATP

24. Covalent bonds are formed by sharing of electrons between different atoms to generate a
stable configuration. Which TWO of the statements below are correct. (FILL TWO
BUBBLES)
a) Elements formed at the big bang have been combining and rearranging to form more
stable molecular combinations ever since.
b) Some metabolic reactions involve nuclear fusion in which new elements are
formed.
c) Metabolic pathways are reactions in which covalent bonds are broken and formed
(electron sharing rearranged) to produce different atomic combinations.
d) Metabolic reactions all involve transfer of electrons and protons from one molecule
(donor) to another (acceptor).
e) Covalent bonds are extremely stable and cannot break under normal laboratory
conditions or within a living cell.

25 Redox reactions are central to life on earth and involve which of the following
sorts of chemical transfers? (Fill ONE Bubble)
a. Reciprocal exchange of protons and electrons back and forth between two molecules.
b. Transfer of electrons (and often protons) from a donor to recipient molecule.
c. Loss of phosphate from an ATP molecule
d. Rearrangement of carbons within a molecule.
e. Loss of protons from a larger molecule and release in solution as H+ ions.

26 The organic molecules found in living things are composed almost entirely of the
elements C, H, O, N, P, S. Which TWO of the following statements best describe the
source of these organic molecules. Fill TWO bubbles.
a. All organic molecules were formed at the time of the BIG BANG and have been
inter-converted and recycled in living cells ever since.
b. Organic molecules can only form within living cells.
c. The types of organic molecules found in living things are a small subset of the
possible types that can be formed chemically from the same elements.
d. While organic molecules can and do form spontaneously without life, the bulk of
these molecules found in living things today were actually produced
within some living cell.
e. Organic molecules first formed on earth before life arose and are continuously
used by living things as their source of building materials.
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27. Based on what we know of the universe, why might we expect the
earth to be a chemically very reduced place ?
A. Light-activated electrons reduced its composite minerals
B. Oxygen has been withdrawn by reaction with many minerals.
C. Earth has been an acceptor of electrons that bombard it from outer space
D. Hydrogen (with helium) makes up 98% of the universe.
E. The size of our planet is smaller than that of many others.

To emphasize the biological importance of Redox reactions , metabolism was

compared to putting a burning match into a dish of aviation fuel and observing an
explosion.
28. In the aviation fuel example of a redox reaction, what served as the electron
ACCEPTOR? (FILL ONE BUBBLE)
A. The fuel
B. The match.
C. There was no acceptor. Thats why the explosion occurred.
D. There was no acceptor. Thats why this was a poor analogy.
E. Oxygen was the acceptor, but we didnt discuss it much initially.

29. In the aviation fuel example, what was the role of the match?
A. It reduced the transition level energy required for the reaction.
B. It served as a catalyst for the reaction.
C. In increased the local concentration of the fuel.
D. By increasing the temperature, it raised the energy level of the fuel
above the transition state level.
E. It increased the concentration of oxygen near the fuel.

30. What aspects of the aviation fuel example make it an inappropriate analogy? to
metabolism? (FILL AS MANY BUBBLES AS YOU NEED, NO MORE, NO LESS)
A. The aviation fuel example is not a redox reaction.
B. Life must stimulate only specific reactions not all reactions.
C. Unlike the aviation fuel example, lifes reactions never come to steady state.
D. Life does not run on redox reactions.
E. Life must release energy slowly, not all at once.

31. Which of the following does all life require.

(FILL ONE BUBBLE)
A. A source of reducing power.
B. A proton motive force
C. A source of ATP
D. A source of reduced carbon
E. All of the above.

32. Which of the above could the abiotic earth supply directly?
(FILL ONE BUBBLE)
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33. Given the things are abundant on the planet (H2O, CO2), which of the above FOUR
requirements can be supplied ultimately by light (without help from the earth).
(FILL ONE BUBBLE)

34. Covalent bonds between the biological elements (H, C, N, P, S, O) generate the organic
molecules found in living things. Which TWO of the following statements best
describe these bonds. (FILL IN TWO BUBBLES)
a_ These bonds are unique to living cells and are never found elsewhere.
b. These bonds involve two atoms sharing electrons.
c. Many molecules include these bonds, but their behavior is unique in living things.
d. These bonds are chemical phenomena that can occur with or without life.
e. The biological elements are the only ones that form covalent bonds.

35 The earth is thought to have formed about 4.6 billion years ago and life is estimated
to have formed about 800 million years later. What major event was required
on earth before life could even start emerging?

A. The atmosphere had to acquire oxygen.

B. The planet had to cool down from its initial molten state.
C. The sun had to get strong enough to allow photosynthesis.
D. The biological elements (H, N, C, O, S, P) had to form by atomic fusion.
E. Redox chemistry had to evolve to allow chemical bonding.

36. Instead of a course in organic chemistry, we described standard combinations

in which of biological elements frequently bond with each other. Heres a list.
Pick the standard number of covalent bonds formed by each element.
Give the number of bonds formed. (A = 1, B = 2, etc on your scantron!)
35. Oxygen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
36. Carbon Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
37. Hydrogen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
38 Nitrogen Choose: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5

37. Redox reactions were said to be central to providing energy for life.
Define a redox reaction by picking the TWO statements that together
give the best answer.
a) A compound loses electrons and sometimes protons to the solvent
b) Oxygen leaves one molecule and is transferred to another.
c) A reactant accepts electrons and sometimes protons from the solvent.
d) Electrons and sometimes protons are transferred from a donor to an acceptor
molecule.
e) Can be analyzed as the sum of two half-reactions the donation event and the
acceptance event.
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40. Metabolism describes the behavior of organic molecules. Which TWO of the following
are true statements that might contribute to a definition of organic molecules
(PICK TWO)
a) Are found only within living things.
b) Were first discovered in living things.
c) Comprised primarily of the biological elements (CNSOPH)
d) Can only form within living things.
e) Compounds that are synthesized without use of artificial components.