Cell Biology 2.1: Chemical Bonds

What distinguishes the chemistry of life from other types of chemistry?

(A) It is based overwhelmingly on carbon-containing compounds. (B) It is dominated by collections of polymers. (C) It is tightly regulated and enormously complex. (D) It takes place almost exclusively in water. (E) ALL OF THE ABOVE******

How much does a mole of carbon atoms (having an atomic weight of 12) weigh?

12 g

An oxygen atom, with 6 electrons (of a possible 8) in its outer electron shell, has the capacity to form a maximum of how many covalent bonds?

2

What type of bond is formed when two atoms share electrons?

A Covalent Bond

What type of bond is formed when one atom donates electrons to another atom?

An ionic bond

What is the smallest particle of an element that still retains its distinctive chemical properties?

Atom

How are covalent bonds in the cell rapidly broken?

By enzyme catalysis

Which four elements make up 96% of the weight of living organisms?

C, H, N, O

Which type of bond is the strongest in cells?

Covalent

Which subatomic particles undergo rearrangements when atoms combine with others to form molecules?

Electrons

The atoms found in living tissues all have complete outer electron shells and are therefore quite stable on their own.

False

The atomic weight of an atom is its mass relative to which of the following atoms?

Hydrogen

In an atom, the number of positively charged protons is generally the same as the number of:

Negatively charged electrons

Which type of subatomic particle can be found in the nucleus of an atom?

Neutron

Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of what type of subatomic particle?

Neutrons

The atomic number of an element is best determined by:

Number of protons

Which term describes a covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally?

Polar

Which subatomic particle is found in the nucleus of a hydrogen atom?

Proton

Which subatomic particles have essentially the same mass?

Protons and Neutrons

Which of the following elements is not typically found in cells?

Silver

Which type of covalent bond allows for rotation about the bond axis?

Single bond

Which of the following covalent bonds is relatively nonpolar?

The bond between C and H

What dictates the number of bonds an atom can make?

The state of its outermost electron shell

Organic chemistry is the study of what type of molecules?

Those containing carbon