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AP®BiologyCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 1: Chemistry of LifeWater & Chemical Elements

Water & Chemical Elements (College Board AP® Biology): Exam Questions

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Water & Chemical Elements

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1a
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Water is found in every living organism. Cohesion and adhesion are properties of water that allow it to play an essential role in living organisms.

Identify another property of water that allows it to play an essential role in living organisms.

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1b
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In plants water travels from the roots to the leaves in a continuous column, within narrow cells known as xylem vessels.

Describe how the properties of cohesion and adhesion aid water transport in plants.

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1c
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A molecule of water contains three atoms. Two molecules of water are shown in Figure 1.

Two water molecules depicted with an oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms, showing their V-shaped molecular structure.
Figure 1. Two molecules of water.

Draw hydrogen bonds on Figure 1.

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1d
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Predict what would happen to the molecules within a mixture of water and oil.

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2a
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Identify a macromolecule that contains nitrogen.

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2b
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Explain how autotrophs obtain the carbon necessary for building biological molecules.

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2c
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Predict how living organisms would be affected if the phosphorus cycle were disrupted and phosphorus became unavailable.

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2d
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Explain why organisms must exchange matter with the environment.

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3a
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Identify the monomer that makes up protein macromolecules.

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3b
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State one function of carbohydrates in living organisms.

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3c
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State what is meant by the term polar, in the context of water molecules.

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3d
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Explain how the interactions between water molecules contribute to water’s surface tension.

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1a
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Water, and elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for biological processes. In photosynthesis, water provides electrons, while phosphorus is required for ATP synthesis. Scientists studied how limited water and phosphorus availability affect photosynthesis by measuring oxygen production in aquatic plants. Their results are shown in Figure 1.

Bar chart showing oxygen production under varying water and phosphorus conditions. Highest with normal levels; lowest with limited levels of both.
Figure 1. Oxygen production in plants at different levels of water and phosphorus availability.

Describe how limiting water availability affects oxygen production.

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1b
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Identify the independent and dependent variables in the study described in part a).

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1c
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Predict how a long-term decrease in both water and phosphorus availability would affect an aquatic ecosystem.

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1d
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Phosphorus is needed for production of ATP, which powers many metabolic processes.

State two other macromolecules that require phosphorus atoms.

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