FCAT Study Guide

Biochemistry
 What Happens in a Chemical
Reaction?

Chemical reactions occur when

atoms rearrange.

Methane (CH4) and oxygen (O2) (reactants) react to

form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) (products)
Notice how atoms have switched partners or
2
rearranged.
 What is Storing More
Energy?
• If energy was released, it means that the
products store less energy than the
reactants. This is an exothermic reaction.

Reactant
E s
N
E
R
G
Y Energy is
Products
released

3
 What is Storing More
Energy?
• If energy is absorbed, it means that the
products store more energy than the
reactants. This is an endothermic reaction.

Products
Energy is
E
absorbed
N
E
R
G
Y Reactant
s

4
 Some Chemical Reactions are VERY
FAST

Click on the Hyperlink below to view the full video with

audio of this very fast exothermic reaction.
Reaction between chlorine, Cl2 (greengas)andsodiummetal,producesNaCl, salt

2 Na +Cl 2 →2 NaCl
 Let’s Go Back to the Reaction
Between Methane and Oxygen

When the oxygen and methane molecules collide, the

collision has to be STRONG enough to break the bonds
that already exist. If the collision does not have
enough energy, the reaction does not happen. At
room temperature molecules of methane gas and
oxygen collide but not STRONGLY enough for the
reaction to happen. 6
 Activation Energy

• The minimum amount of energy necessary

to get a reaction going is called the
activation energy, EA.

• All reactions have a certain amount of

activation energy that must be overcome
for the reaction to occur

Applet showing collision of particles with different energy (<E

A and>or=E A)andorientation .

7
 Exothermic Reaction
and EA

Before the reaction gets to the lower level of the

products, it must get over the hump of the
activation energy. 8
 Endothermic Reaction
and EA

For the reaction to get to the higher energy level of

the products, the activation energy must be
supplied and stored in the bonds of the products. 9
 Activation Energy Affects the
Rate of a Reaction
• The greater the required activation energy of a
reaction, the slower the reaction will proceed.

• If the required activation energy is lowered, a

reaction will proceed faster.

10
 Catalysts

• A catalyst is a substance that makes a

reaction go faster by lowering the required
activation energy.

• A catalyst IS NOT changed or used up in

a reaction.

11
Effect of a Catalyst

The blue line represents a

reaction without a
catalyst.

The red line represents

a reaction where a
catalyst was added.

The activation energy is

lower so the reaction
will go faster.

12
 Decomposition of Hydrogen
Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide H2O2 decomposes by

itself into hydrogen gas and water.

2 H 2O2 → 2 H 2O + O2
This reaction normally happens VERY SLOWLY.
If a catalyst such as potassium iodide ( KI) is
added, the reaction occurs much faster.

Click Here for Reaction Video

13
 Biological Catalysts -
Enzymes
• Living organisms also have catalysts that speed
up reactions.

• These catalysts are called enzymes.

• Enzymes in the blood catalyze the decomposition

of hydrogen peroxide. That is why applying
hydrogen peroxide on a wound makes it foamy.

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 REVIEW
Factors That Affect
Reaction Rate
• Temperature:
more collisions means faster reaction rate
• Concentration:
more reactants means faster reaction rate
• Pressure:
more collisions means faster reaction rate
• Catalyst:
lower activation energy means faster reaction rate

• Surface Area
Greater surface area means more collisions for a faster
reaction rate
• pH
Optimal pH means faster rate of reaction

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 Multiple Choice (MC) FCAT Question
Catalysts may reduce the amount of activation energy required for a chemical
reaction to occur. Platinum (Pt) is a catalyst that is used in the catalytic converters
in automobiles. In the graphs below, pathway x is a solid line representing the
uncatalyzed reaction. The dotted line shows the catalyzed reaction. Which graph
best illustrates the changes in a reaction when the catalyst reduces the amount of
energy required?
Short-Response (SR) FCAT Released Question

REPORT ON THE 2006 FCAT SCIENCE RELEASED ITEMS

 Student
Responses SCORE: 1

Catalysts are not used up in a

 Key Concept:
What Kinds of Biochemical Reactions Occur in
Cells?

• What is photosynthesis?
• How does photosynthesis occur?
• What is glucose?
• What is cellular respiration?
• Why do organisms need to perform respiration?

Click here to view animations about the relationship between

photosynthesis and cellular respiration:
1. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078695104/student_view0/brain_pop

Technology LAB:
GIZMOS- www.explorelearning.com
1. Cell Energy Cycle (Photosynthesis/Cell Respiration)
2. Interdependence of Plants and Animals

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 Sample FCAT Questions

Energy from food is made available to cells by the process of

cellular respiration. In this biochemical reaction, water and carbon
dioxide are produced from the breakdown of:

A. minerals
B. glucose
C. ATP
D. vitamins

What do you need to know in order to answer this question?

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 Sample FCAT Questions

Energy from food is made available to cells by the process of

cellular respiration. In this biochemical reaction, water and
carbon dioxide are produced from the breakdown of

A. minerals
B. glucose
C. ATP
D. vitamins

Correct answer: B

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Key Concept: What is the Role of Glucose?

• It is found in plant and animal

material that is used for food.
• Glucose molecules are broken
down through a series of
chemical reactions known as
cellular respiration so that
energy can be released and
used by the cells.

Click for
Glucose Song
Karaoke

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 Key Concept:
What is the Role of Proteins in Cells?

• The structure of a protein determines its function in a

cell.
• Proteins:
– Act as transporters
– Can form enzymes
– Control chemical reactions in cells

Technology Lab:
GIZMOS- www.explorelearning.com
Dehydration Synthesis (Proteins)

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 Sample FCAT Question

One function of cell membrane proteins is the active transport of

material across the membrane. What does this do for the cell?

A. The transport proteins only allow dissolved salts into the cell.
B. The transport proteins only allow complex external proteins
into the cell.
C. The transport proteins regulate quantities of internal
chemicals.
D. The transport proteins allow water to flow in and out of the cell
easily.

What do you need to know in order to answer this question?

24
 Sample FCAT Question

One function of cell membrane proteins is the active transport

of
material across the membrane. What does this do for the cell?

A. The transport proteins only allow dissolved salts into the cell.
B. The transport proteins only allow complex external proteins
into the cell.
C. The transport proteins regulate quantities of internal
chemicals.
D. The transport proteins allow water to flow in and out of the cell
easily.

Correct Answer: C

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 Group Discussion Question
for Key Concept #1

• What kinds of biochemical reactions occur in cells?

Click for Answer:

Many biochemical reactions occur in cells. One familiar biochemical

reaction is photosynthesis, in which plant cells create the sugar glucose (the
major source of energy for living things) from the energy of the sun. As a
result of photosynthesis, plant and animal cells use glucose molecules in the
biochemical process of cellular respiration in order to obtain useful energy
for cells.

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 Group Discussion Question
for Key Concept #2

• What is the role of glucose in cells?

Click for Answer:

Glucose is a simple sugar produced by

photosynthesis, and is found in plant and
animal material that is used for food.
Glucose is the molecule that is broken apart
during cellular respiration so that energy from
this molecule can be released and used by cells.

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 Group Discussion Question
for Key Concept #4

• What is the role of proteins in cells?

Click for Answer:

Proteins are important to cells for several reasons.

First of all, the shape and structure of a proteins
determines its function in a cell. Most enzymes are
proteins. In addition, proteins act as transporters,
helping cells pump in certain needed materials such as
specific hormones, potassium, salts, etc. Through
active transport. In other words, proteins control
chemical reactions within cells. In addition, proteins
form structures for long-term nutrient storage.

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 Group Discussion Question
for Key Concept #5

• How does DNA tell a cell what to do?

Click for Answer:

DNA is the genetic code found in the

nucleus of the cell and makes special
proteins for the cell to use. All
biochemical reactions are based on
the coded information on molecules of
DNA. DNA is literally the set of direction
by which cells functions.
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 Short Response SC.A.1.4.4
To produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4), one industrial plant uses the “contact
process,” which consists of several reactions. The initial reaction in this
process uses sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) and oxygen (O2 ) in the presence of
vanadium oxide (V2 O5) pellets to produce sulfur trioxide (SO3) as shown
below.
V2O5
Pellets
2S02 (g) + O2 (g) ---------------- 2SO3 (g)
Sulfur Oxygen Sulfur
Dioxide trioxide

Part A In the reaction between SO2 and O2, what is the role of the V2O5
pellets?
The vanadium oxide pellets serve as a catalyst in the reaction
between SO2 and O2.

Part B Explain what the industrial chemist could do to increase the

efficiency of the reaction.

To increase the reaction’s efficiency, the chemists could increase

the temperature at which the reaction occurs.

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 Short Response SC.A.1.4.4

Magnesium (Mg) in solid form can chemically react with chlorine(Cl2)

gas to form magnesium chloride (MgCl2). This reaction is
exothermic.
Mg + Cl2 ------------- MgCl2 + Heat

In the reaction between Mg and Cl2 , what determines how

quickly the reaction will occur? Explain your answer.

The rate of a reaction depends on the surface

area of the Mg and the concentration of the Cl2 .
Also, the pressure and temperature of the
reactants will have an effect on the rate of
reaction. The number of molecules interacting and
the energy in those molecules will determine the
rate of reaction.
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 Short Response SC.D.1.4.2

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean has been studied

by scientists for many years. The formations produced by the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge yields clues to the composition of Earth’s
crust.

Part A In what direction are the two oceanic plates at the

Mid-Atlantic Ridge moving in relation to each other?

Part B Explain how a volcano can be produced by the

movement of these plates.

Part A: The oceanic plates are moving away

from each other.

Part B: When only a thin layer of crust is present

between these spreading plates, magma
may be released. The larva may then rise
and spread upward and outward, forming a
volcano. 32