GRADE 12 BIOLOGY – METABOLISM UNIT TEST TOPICS
1. Know the structure and function of ATP.
2. How is ATP formed and how is it used for energy?
3. Know the definitions for
a. Metabolism
f. Exothermic reactions
b. Anabolic reactions
g. Transition state
c. Catabolic reactions
h. Activation energy
d. Enthalpy
i. Entropy
e. Endothermic reactions
j. Bond energy
4. Be able to determine if certain processes are anabolic or catabolic.
5. State the first law of thermodynamics.
6. Explain how the first law of thermodynamics can be applied to living things.
7. Be able to distinguish between a potential energy diagram for an endothermic and an
exothermic reaction and label the reactants, products, transition state and activation energy.
8. State the second law of thermodynamics.
9. Be able to determine if a certain process leads to an increase or decrease of entropy.
10. What are redox reactions?
11. What happens during oxidation? What happens during reduction?
12. What is the oxidizing agent? What is the reducing agent?
13. When given a chemical reaction, be able to indicate which molecule is being oxidized and
which is being reduced.
14. What are coupled redox reactions? When and where do we see them in the cell (think about
cellular respiration and photosynthesis?
15. Know the definitions for:
a. Photoautotrophs
d. Obligate anaerobes
b. Heterotrophs
e. Obligate aerobes
c. Chemoautotrophs
f. Facultative anaerobes
16. What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration?
17. Describe the structure of a mitochondria and be able to draw and label a diagram of a
mitochondria.
18. What are the two methods for the phosphorylation of ADP into ATP? Describe each.
19. What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration?
20. What are the 4 steps of cellular respiration, what are the main reactants and products for each
step (include amounts).
21. Describe what is occurring during the process of glycolysis. Describe where the process
occurs, what the name of each molecule in the process is, where phosphorylation occurs and
how it occurs, where redox reactions occur, etc.
22. Describe how the energy in the molecules of glycolysis changes by the addition and removal
of phosphate groups.
23. Describe where pyruvate oxidation occurs and what the reactants and products of the reaction
are.
24. Describe where the Kreb’s cycle occurs and what the reactants and products of the reaction
are.
25. Where is the electron transport chain located?
26. Describe what is occurring in the electron transport chain using a diagram. Be able to explain
how a molecule of NADH and/or a molecule of FADH2 can be used to create ATP by
oxidative phosphorylation using the ETC.
27. How many ATP molecules are phosphorylated for every NADH molecule? For every
FADH2 molecule? How many ATP molecules are produced in total from each glucose
molecule that undergoes cellular respiration?
28. Describe how carbohydrates (other than glucose), proteins, and lipids are used in the process
of cellular respiration.
29. What is anaerobic respiration? What are the two main types of anaerobic respiration?
30. Describe what happens during ethanol fermentation and how this process is useful to humans.
31. Describe what happens during lactic acid fermentation and how this process relates to
exercise.
32. What is VO2 max and how does it relate to fitness?
33. What is the lactate threshold and how does it relate to fitness?
34. What is photosynthesis?
35. What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
36. Describe the structure of a chloroplast and be able to draw and label a diagram of one.
37. Describe how the terms energy, photons and wavelengths relate to light.
38. What is chlorophyll, what does it do, and why do plants appear green?
39. What are photosystems?
40. What are some structural characteristics of leaves for photosynthesis?
41. What are stomata? What is their function? What are guard cells?
42. What is transpiration and how does it help photosynthesis?
43. How does osmosis control the opening and closing of stomata?
44. Describe the two main stages of photosynthesis: What they are called, where they occur and
their main function?
45. Describe what is occurring during the light reactions of photosynthesis using a diagram.
46. What is the difference between non-cyclic and cyclic electron flow in the light reactions of
photosynthesis?
47. What is carbon fixation?
48. What are the main reactions that occur during the Calvin cycle (in order)?
49. What is rubisco and why is it the most abundant protein on Earth?
50. What is photorespiration and how does it affect the efficiency of photosynthesis?
51. Compare and contrast:
a. C3 photosynthesis
b. C4 photosynthesis
c. CAM photosynthesis
52. Compare and contrast cellular respiration with photosynthesis on:
a. The reactants and products of each.
b. Whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
c. The source of electrons and name of the electron carriers.
d. Compare their electron transport chains based on their: electron source, electron sink
and products.
e. Compare the mitochondria and chloroplasts