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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Elements, Water & Carbohydrates in Organisms: Test Your Knowledge!

Ready to explore elements in organisms and macromolecules? Start the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration showing water molecule diagram and carbohydrate chain icons on coral background for a biology quiz

This quiz helps you practice elements and macromolecules in biology, with questions on water and carbohydrates. You'll get a score and instant feedback to spot gaps before a test, and you can keep learning with cell biology or explore chemistry of life when you finish.

Which element is the most abundant by mass in the human body?
Nitrogen
Hydrogen
Carbon
Oxygen
Oxygen makes up about 65% of the human body's mass due to its prevalence in water and organic molecules. It plays a key role in cellular respiration and metabolic processes. Understanding elemental abundance helps explain physiological functions and dietary needs. See more at .
The smallest unit of an element that retains all of its chemical properties is called a what?
Ion
Atom
Molecule
Compound
An atom is the basic building block of matter and retains the chemical identity of the element. Ions are charged particles, molecules are combinations of atoms, and compounds are substances formed by chemical bonds between different elements. Grasping atomic structure is foundational for understanding chemistry. Learn more at .
Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?
Ionic bond
Hydrogen bond
Covalent bond
Metallic bond
Covalent bonds form when atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve stable electron configurations. Ionic bonds result from electron transfer, hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between polar molecules, and metallic bonds involve a sea of delocalized electrons. Covalent bonding is crucial in forming macromolecules. More at .
Water's polarity allows it to form which type of weak bond between molecules?
Metallic bond
Hydrogen bond
Covalent bond
Ionic bond
Water molecules are polar, meaning they have partial positive and negative charges that attract each other to form hydrogen bonds. These bonds give water its high cohesion, surface tension, and solvent capabilities. Understanding hydrogen bonding explains many of water's unique properties. See .
Which group of macromolecules is the primary source of quick energy in organisms?
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Carbohydrates, especially simple sugars and starches, are easily broken down to release glucose, the main fuel for cellular processes. Proteins and lipids can also provide energy but are used more for structural and long-term storage roles. Knowing macromolecule functions is key in biochemistry. More info at .
The monomer units of proteins are known as what?
Nucleotides
Monosaccharides
Fatty acids
Amino acids
Proteins are polymers made of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds. Monosaccharides form carbohydrates, nucleotides form nucleic acids, and fatty acids are building blocks of lipids. Amino acid sequence determines protein structure and function. See .
In a dehydration synthesis reaction, what molecule is released when two monomers bond?
Carbon dioxide
Ammonia
Water
Oxygen
Dehydration synthesis (condensation) joins monomers by removing a water molecule each time a new bond forms. This reaction is fundamental in building macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Understanding this explains polymer formation in cells. More at .
Carbohydrates are made up of which three elements?
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen
Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen
Carbohydrates have the general formula Cm(H2O)n, containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. This composition underlies their role as hydrated carbons and energy sources. Nitrogen is found in proteins and nucleic acids. For more, see .
Which monosaccharide is commonly referred to as blood sugar?
Fructose
Glucose
Lactose
Sucrose
Glucose circulates in the blood and is the primary energy source for cells. Fructose is fruit sugar, sucrose is table sugar (glucose + fructose), and lactose is milk sugar. Monitoring blood glucose is vital for metabolic health. See .
Which polysaccharide serves as the main form of energy storage in plants?
Glycogen
Starch
Cellulose
Chitin
Plants store excess glucose as starch, which can be broken down when energy is needed. Animals store glucose as glycogen. Cellulose provides structural support in plant cell walls, and chitin is found in fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons. More at .
What is often called the "universal solvent" due to its ability to dissolve many substances?
Acetone
Ethanol
Water
Benzene
Water's polarity allows it to dissolve salts, sugars, and many polar molecules, earning it the title "universal solvent." Other solvents are effective for specific solutes but lack water's versatility. This property is crucial for biochemical reactions in cells. Learn more at .
All macromolecules in living organisms contain which element in their backbone structures?
Carbon
Sulfur
Phosphorus
Iron
Carbon's ability to form four stable covalent bonds makes it the backbone of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Sulfur and phosphorus appear in specific side groups, but not all macromolecules contain them. Understanding carbon's role is key in organic chemistry. See .
Which type of bond holds separate water molecules together, giving water its cohesion?
Ionic bond
Covalent bond
Hydrogen bond
Peptide bond
Hydrogen bonds form between the partially positive hydrogen of one water molecule and the partially negative oxygen of another. These weak bonds create cohesion, surface tension, and other unique properties of water. Ionic and covalent bonds are stronger and occur within molecules. For more, see .
Pure water at 25°C has a pH closest to which value?
9
3
7
5
pH 7 is neutral, meaning the concentrations of H+ and OH - are equal. Values below 7 are acidic (higher H+), and above 7 are basic (higher OH - ). This concept is crucial in biochemistry and physiology. Read more at .
What is the primary storage polysaccharide found in animal cells?
Chitin
Glycogen
Starch
Cellulose
Glycogen is a highly branched glucose polymer stored in liver and muscle tissues of animals. Starch is the plant storage form, cellulose provides structure, and chitin is in arthropods and fungi. Glycogen's structure allows rapid glucose release. More at .
The sequence of amino acids in a protein represents which level of protein structure?
Secondary
Quaternary
Primary
Tertiary
The primary structure refers to the linear sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Secondary structure arises from hydrogen bonding (?-helices and ?-sheets). Tertiary is the three-dimensional folding, and quaternary involves multiple polypeptide subunits. See .
Which macromolecules are the main components of biological membranes?
Triglycerides
Waxes
Steroids
Phospholipids
Phospholipids form bilayers due to their amphipathic nature, creating selective barriers around cells. Triglycerides store energy, steroids have signaling roles, and waxes provide waterproofing. Membrane fluidity and function depend on phospholipid composition. More at .
What polysaccharide provides structural support in the cell walls of plants?
Amylose
Cellulose
Lactose
Glycogen
Cellulose is a linear polymer of ?-glucose with ?-1,4-glycosidic linkages, providing rigidity to plant cell walls. Humans cannot digest cellulose due to lack of the necessary enzyme. Glycogen is animal storage, amylose is a starch component, and lactose is milk sugar. See .
Nucleotides are the monomeric units of which macromolecules?
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
DNA and RNA are polymers composed of nucleotide monomers, each containing a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base. Proteins are made of amino acids, carbohydrates of monosaccharides, and lipids of fatty acids. Nucleotide sequence encodes genetic information. More at .
Which disaccharide is composed of glucose and fructose?
Cellobiose
Sucrose
Lactose
Maltose
Sucrose is table sugar formed by a ?-1,2-glycosidic bond between glucose and fructose. Lactose is glucose + galactose, maltose is two glucoses, and cellobiose is two ?-glucoses. Sucrose is widely used as an energy source. See .
Which element is crucial for the production of thyroid hormones in humans?
Iodine
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
Iodine is a key component of thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate metabolism. Insufficient iodine intake can lead to goiter and hypothyroidism. Iron, calcium, and magnesium have different physiological roles. More at .
An acidic solution has a higher concentration of which ion compared to pure water?
H+
Cl-
OH-
Na+
Acidic solutions have more hydrogen ions (H+) than hydroxide ions (OH-), lowering pH below 7. Basic solutions have more OH- and pH above 7. Neutral water has equal concentrations of H+ and OH-. See .
Which reaction breaks down a polymer into its monomers by adding a molecule of water?
Phosphorylation
Hydrolysis
Redox
Condensation
Hydrolysis adds water to cleave bonds in polymers, converting them into monomers. Condensation (dehydration synthesis) removes water to form bonds, phosphorylation adds phosphate groups, and redox involves electron transfer. Hydrolysis is key in digestion and metabolism. More at .
The functional group - OH is known as what in organic chemistry?
Carboxyl group
Amino group
Hydroxyl group
Methyl group
The hydroxyl group ( - OH) is a key functional group in alcohols and carbohydrates, contributing to polarity and hydrogen bonding. Amino groups contain - NH2, carboxyl groups are - COOH, and methyl groups are - CH3. Recognizing functional groups aids in predicting molecule behavior. See Britannica: Functional Group.
What type of covalent bond results from unequal sharing of electrons between atoms?
Polar covalent bond
Nonpolar covalent bond
Hydrogen bond
Ionic bond
Polar covalent bonds form when electrons are shared unequally, creating partial charges on the atoms. Nonpolar covalent bonds share electrons equally, ionic bonds transfer electrons, and hydrogen bonds are dipole - dipole attractions. This polarity affects molecular interactions. More at .
Which property of water is responsible for capillary action in plants?
High heat of vaporization
Cohesion
High specific heat
Adhesion
Adhesion between water molecules and plant cell walls allows water to climb against gravity, enabling capillary action. Cohesion keeps the water column intact, but adhesion initiates movement along vessel walls. High specific heat and heat of vaporization are thermal properties. See .
The ?-1,4-glycosidic linkage is characteristic of which polysaccharide?
Glycogen
Chitin
Cellulose
Starch
Cellulose is composed of ?-glucose units linked by ?-1,4-glycosidic bonds, forming straight chains that hydrogen-bond for strength. Starch and glycogen have ?-1,4 and ?-1,6 linkages, while chitin has ?-1,4 linkages but with N-acetylglucosamine. This difference explains digestibility and function. More at .
Which factor most commonly causes protein denaturation?
Low temperature
Neutral pH
Enzymes
Heat
Elevated temperatures disrupt hydrogen bonds and other noncovalent interactions stabilizing protein structure, causing denaturation. Enzymes catalyze reactions but do not inherently unfold proteins, neutral pH is often optimal, and low temperatures generally stabilize proteins. Temperature sensitivity is critical in biochemistry. See .
Humans lack the enzyme required to break down which of the following polysaccharides?
Starch
Glycogen
Amylopectin
Cellulose
Humans lack cellulase, the enzyme necessary to hydrolyze ?-1,4-glycosidic bonds in cellulose. We can digest starch and glycogen via ?-amylases. Amylopectin is a branched starch component with ?-1,6 branches. This is why dietary fiber passes undigested. More at .
Lipids that contain four fused carbon rings belong to which class?
Phospholipids
Triglycerides
Steroids
Waxes
Steroids are lipids characterized by a core structure of four fused hydrocarbon rings. Triglycerides have glycerol and three fatty acids, phospholipids have a phosphate group, and waxes are long-chain fatty acids bonded to alcohols. Steroids include cholesterol and hormones. See .
What is the general formula for monosaccharides?
C?(H?O)?
C?H????
CHO
C?H??O???
Monosaccharides have a general formula C?(H?O)?, reflecting their origin as hydrated carbons. This distinguishes them from hydrocarbons (C?H????) and other formulas. Recognizing this helps identify sugars. More at .
Enzymes accelerate chemical reactions by lowering what?
Entropy
Enthalpy
Free energy
Activation energy
Enzymes provide an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, increasing reaction rates without altering the overall free energy change. They do not change ?G (free energy) of the reaction. Understanding enzyme kinetics is fundamental in biochemistry. See .
Fructose differs from glucose because it contains a ketone group on which carbon?
Fourth carbon
Second carbon
Third carbon
First carbon
Fructose is a ketose sugar with its carbonyl (ketone) group on carbon 2. Glucose is an aldose with its aldehyde group on carbon 1. This structural difference influences metabolism and sweetness. More at .
Which type of bond stabilizes the ?-helix structure in proteins?
Peptide bond
Disulfide bond
Ionic bond
Hydrogen bond
Hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygen of one peptide bond and the amide hydrogen four residues ahead stabilize ?-helices. Ionic bonds and disulfide bonds contribute to tertiary structures, while peptide bonds form the backbone. Secondary structure relies on hydrogen bonding. See .
Which process involves removing electrons from a molecule?
Reduction
Condensation
Oxidation
Hydrolysis
Oxidation is the loss of electrons from a molecule, often accompanied by energy release. Reduction is the gain of electrons. Condensation forms bonds by releasing water, and hydrolysis breaks bonds by adding water. Redox reactions are central to metabolism. More at .
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is primarily involved in which function?
Protein synthesis
Lipid synthesis
DNA replication
Waste degradation
The smooth ER synthesizes lipids, phospholipids, and steroids, and also detoxifies chemicals. The rough ER, studded with ribosomes, is responsible for protein synthesis. DNA replication occurs in the nucleus, and waste degradation is handled by lysosomes. Learn more at .
Water has a high specific heat capacity primarily because of what molecular property?
Van der Waals forces
Molecular weight
Ionic strength
Hydrogen bonding network
Water's extensive hydrogen bonding network requires significant energy to break and rearrange bonds, resulting in high specific heat capacity. Ionic strength and molecular weight play minor roles, and van der Waals forces are weaker. This property buffers temperature changes in organisms and environments. See .
Chitin differs from cellulose by the presence of which functional group on its monomer?
Hydroxyl group
Acetylamino group
Carboxyl group
Amino group
Chitin is composed of N-acetylglucosamine units, featuring an acetylamino group at carbon 2. Cellulose monomers are ?-glucose with only hydroxyl groups. This modification gives chitin increased strength and different properties, especially in exoskeletons. More at .
Glycosidic bonds in cellulose are formed between which carbons of glucose units?
C1 and C6
C1 and C2
C2 and C3
C1 and C4 (beta)
Cellulose is a polymer of ?-D-glucose linked by ?-1,4-glycosidic bonds between the C1 of one glucose and C4 of the next. This linear arrangement allows hydrogen bonding between chains for structural support. Other linkages produce different polysaccharides. See .
Which catalytic RNA molecule demonstrates that RNA can act as an enzyme?
Peptidase
Ribosome
Ribozyme
DNA polymerase
Ribozymes are RNA molecules with catalytic activity, capable of catalyzing specific biochemical reactions without protein enzymes. Ribosomes contain ribozymes but are complex assemblies, peptidases are protein enzymes, and DNA polymerases are proteins. The discovery of ribozymes supports the RNA world hypothesis. More at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand key elements in organisms -

    Learn to recognize the most common chemical elements found in living systems and their roles in biological processes, preparing you for the elements in organisms quiz.

  2. Identify major macromolecules -

    Gain the ability to pinpoint the four main types of macromolecules - carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids - and describe their structures and functions.

  3. Analyze water's biological importance -

    Explore water's unique properties and how they support life, enhancing your performance on the water and carbohydrates quiz.

  4. Differentiate carbohydrate classes -

    Compare monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides in terms of structure and energy role within cells.

  5. Apply elements & macromolecules in organisms answers -

    Use your new knowledge to solve quiz questions accurately and strengthen your understanding with biology macromolecules flashcards.

  6. Evaluate your mastery -

    Assess your progress with a scored quiz that consolidates concepts from the macromolecules in biology test and highlights areas for review.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Essential Elements: CHNOPS -

    Living organisms rely on six major elements - carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur - for structure and function, often abbreviated as CHNOPS (University of California). Remember the mnemonic "Clever Hippos Never Order Pink Socks" to lock in the hierarchy. This foundational knowledge appears frequently in elements in organisms quiz questions, so mastering it gives you a head start on elements & macromolecules in organisms answers.

  2. Water's Unique Properties -

    Water's polarity and hydrogen bonding create high specific heat, cohesion, and excellent solvent abilities, as detailed by MIT's chemistry department. These traits make water essential for both biochemical reactions and temperature regulation in cells. Expect water and carbohydrates quiz items to probe your grasp of these concepts.

  3. Carbohydrate Building Blocks -

    Monosaccharides like glucose (C6H12O6) polymerize into disaccharides (e.g., sucrose) and polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose) via dehydration synthesis (source: Khan Academy). Recall the 1:2:1 carbon-to-hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio with the phrase "CHOtron the Organics." This clarity will boost your performance on carbohydrate sections in a macromolecules in biology test.

  4. Macromolecule Functions & Structures -

    Proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbs each have distinct monomers - amino acids, glycerol & fatty acids, nucleotides, and sugars - and play roles from catalysis to genetic storage (National Institutes of Health). Sketching simple diagrams helps cement your understanding and speeds recall under test conditions. Use biology macromolecules flashcards to reinforce this classification quickly.

  5. Active Recall with Quizzes -

    Practicing with timed elements in organisms quiz questions and reviewing elements & macromolecules in organisms answers strengthens memory and highlights knowledge gaps (Harvard Education Review). Aim for mixed-format drills (multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank) and routinely self-assess using flashcards. This method not only prepares you for the macromolecules in biology test but also makes studying more engaging and effective.

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