AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #2081 : Ap Biology

Substances A and B are both neutral in charge at the beginning of a reaction. After undergoing a redox reaction, substance A is positively charged and substance B is negatively charged. Which of the following is true? 

Possible Answers:

Substance A is undergoing oxidation

Substance B is the reducing agent

Substance B is undergoing oxidation

Substance A is the oxidizing agent

Correct answer:

Substance A is undergoing oxidation

Explanation:

Since substance A ends up being positively charged, that means it must have lost or donated a negatively charged electron, thus it is oxidized and, is the reducing agent. Substance B ends up being negatively charged, so that means it gained an negatively charged electron, thus it is reduced and, is the oxidizing agent.

Example Question #2082 : Ap Biology

Given this reaction which of the following is correct?  

Possible Answers:

 is undergoing oxidation

 is undergoing reduction

 is the reducing agent 

 is the reducing agent

Correct answer:

 is the reducing agent

Explanation:

During the redox reaction chlorine becomes the negatively charged chloride ion, so we know that it has gained an electron. This means that it underwent reduction and is an oxidizing agent. Sodium loses an electron since it becomes positively charge, thus we know it has been oxidized and is the reducing agent.

Example Question #2083 : Ap Biology

The given reaction is an example of __________.

Possible Answers:

electron transferral reaction

electron swapping reaction

electron compensation reaction

redox reaction

Correct answer:

redox reaction

Explanation:

This is an example of an oxidation-reduction reaction or redox reaction. In a redox reaction, a negatively charged electron from one substance (sodium in this case) is transferred to another substance (chlorine in this case). This results in a positively charge sodium ion and a negatively charge chloride ion.

Example Question #2084 : Ap Biology

Substance A is losing an electron to substance B. In this case, __________.

Possible Answers:

both substances are being reduced

substance A is undergoing oxidation and substance B is undergoing reduction

both substances are being oxidized

substance A is undergoing reduction and substance B is undergoing oxidation

Correct answer:

substance A is undergoing oxidation and substance B is undergoing reduction

Explanation:

Since substance A is losing an electron it is undergoing oxidation (oxidation is loss of electrons). Substance B is gaining an electron and so it is undergoing reduction (reduction is gain of electrons). Substance A is the reducing agent because it causes the reduction of substance B, and substance B is the oxidizing agent because it causes the oxidation of substance A.

Example Question #2085 : Ap Biology

Substance A is gaining an electron from substance B. In this case, __________.

Possible Answers:

substance A is undergoing oxidation and substance B is undergoing reduction

both substance A and B are being oxidized

both substance A and B are being reduced

substance A is undergoing reduction and substance B is undergoing oxidation

Correct answer:

substance A is undergoing reduction and substance B is undergoing oxidation

Explanation:

Since substance B is losing an electron it is undergoing oxidation (oxidation is loss of electrons). Substance A is gaining an electron and so it is undergoing reduction (reduction is gain of electrons). Substance B is the reducing agent because it causes the reduction of substance A, and substance A is the oxidizing agent because it causes the oxidation of substance B.

Example Question #2086 : Ap Biology

Substances A and B are both neutral in charge at the beginning of a reaction. After undergoing a redox reaction, substance A is positively charged and substance B is negatively charged. Which of the following is true? 

Possible Answers:

Substance A is the reducing agent and substance B is the oxidizing agent

Both substance A and B are oxidizing agents

Substance A is the oxidizing agent and substance B is the reducing agent

Both substance A and B are reducing agents

Correct answer:

Substance A is the reducing agent and substance B is the oxidizing agent

Explanation:

Since substance A ends up being positively charged, that means it must have lost or donated a negatively charged electron, thus it is oxidized and, is the reducing agent. Substance B ends up being negatively charged, so that means it gained an negatively charged electron, thus it is reduced and, is the oxidizing agent.  

Example Question #2087 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is correct regarding the given reaction?

Possible Answers:

 is undergoing oxidation

 is the reducing agent

 is the oxidizing agent

 is the oxidizing agent

Correct answer:

 is the oxidizing agent

Explanation:

During the redox reaction chlorine becomes the negatively charged chloride ion, so we know that it has gained an electron. This means that it undergone reduction and is an oxidizing agent. Sodium loses an electron since it becomes positively charge, thus we know it has been oxidized and is the reducing agent.

Example Question #1 : Understand Functions Of Organelles In The Cell

Skin can be stretched and pulled with great force without breaking or tearing. Which cellular junction is most responsible for keeping skin resilient and intact?

Possible Answers:

Desmosomes

Gap junctions

Intercalated discs

Tight junctions

Correct answer:

Desmosomes

Explanation:

Desmosomes are the primary junction that helps keep tissues that are under a lot of stress, like skin, intact. Although tight junctions typically accompany desmosomes, their primary function is to prevent substances from passing between cells. Gap junctions are used for communication between cells, and intercalated discs are only found in cardiac muscle tissue.

Example Question #1 : Understand Functions Of Organelles In The Cell

Which cellular structure is least likely to bear a membrane protein that moves hydrogen ions out of the organelle?

Possible Answers:

Golgi body

Nucleus

Chloroplast

Mitochondria

Lysosome

Correct answer:

Lysosome

Explanation:

The lysosome is an organelle that is used to digest broken cellular machinery or foreign particles. It maintains an acidic environment inside by pumping hydrogen ions in, not out. This environment helps denature the things it needs to digest, and is the most effective pH for the digestive enzymes that are inside.

The other structures do not maintain acidic environments, and would need the capability of removing protons.

Example Question #2 : Understand Functions Of Organelles In The Cell

Where would you be least likely to find a transmembrane protein?

Possible Answers:

Cell membrane

Ribosomes

Mitochondria

Nucleus

Chloroplasts

Correct answer:

Ribosomes

Explanation:

The simple answer here is that all of these organelles have a membrane, except for ribosomes. Nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cells as a whole have transmembrane proteins spanning the lipid bilayer, which can be used for transport or other purposes. Ribosomes are mostly comprised of rRNA and do not have membranes; thus, they will not bear transmembrane proteins.

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