Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on “Chemical Basis of Life – Acids, Bases and Buffers”.
1. Which of the following is released when a Hydrogen atom loses an electron?
A. Nucleus
B. Proton
C. Charge
D. Ion
Answer: B
Clarification: Whenever a hydrogen atom releases a shared electron in solution, a proton is also released. For example, acetic acid undergoes dissociation reaction to release acetate ion and a proton.
2. Which of the following is an example of amphoteric molecule?
A. Acetic acid
B. Malic acid
C. Sugars
D. Water
Answer: D
Clarification: Water is an example of both an acid and a base, and is therefore an amphoteric molecule. It can accept a proton thereby acting as a base and can also donate a proton acting as an acid.
3. Acids that lose a proton easily are weak acids.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Clarification: The strength of an acid is measured by the relative ease by which it loses a proton. The more readily the proton is lost, more strong is the acid. An example of a strong acid is Hydrogen Chloride which readily transfers its protons to water.
4. What is the full form of pH?
A. Positive hydrogen
B. Potential Hydrogen
C. Positron
D. Proton of hydrogen
Answer: B
Clarification: The acidity of a compound is measured by the concentration of hydrogen ions and is expressed in terms of pH- potential hydrogen. pH equals negative logarithmic concentration of protons.
5. A solution having a pH of 6 has a proton concentration of _______
A. 10-6 M
B. 106 M
C. 6 M
D. 0.6 M
Answer: A
Clarification: pH equals negative logarithmic concentration of protons. Since the pH scale is logarithmic, an increase of one pH unit corresponds to ten-fold decrease in hydrogen ion/ proton concentration.
6. What is the concentration of pure water?
A. 55.51 M
B. 25.51 M
C. 55 M
D. 25 M
Answer: A
Clarification: The concentration of pure water is always 55.51 Molar. On the basis of this universal value ion-product constant Kw for water is calculated, which is a constant value at 25℃.
7. In presence of an acid, amino group can be ____________
A. Polarized
B. Washed away
C. Protonated
D. Replaced
Answer: C
Clarification: In presence of an acid, amino group can be Protonated because an acid release proton, thereby increasing the hydrogen ion concentration in its vicinity and this can result in disruption of the protein activity to which amine group is attached.
8. Buffers react with _______________ ions.
A. hydrogen, hydroxyl
B. magnesium, calcium
C. potassium
D. sodium
Answer: A
Clarification: Buffers react with free hydrogen and free hydroxyl ions resisting changes in the pH and protecting cells and solutions from destroying. Buffers are also routinely used in laboratories.
9. Buffers usually contain ________________ with its conjugate ____________
A. weak base, acid
B. strong base, acid
C. weak acid, base
D. strong acid, base
Answer: C
Clarification: Buffers are used for resisting changes in the pH. A buffer usually contains a weak acid and its conjugate base. Even slight changes in pH can halt biological reactions.
10. Carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions buffer which of the following?
A. Cytosol
B. Cytoplasm
C. Blood
D. Lymph
Answer: C
Clarification: Carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions buffer the blood and hold its pH at 7.4. Carbonic acid is a weak acid and bicarbonate ions are basic in nature. A change in pH of the blood can lead to abnormalities.