AP biology review for AP exam
first 6 quiz topics
1. Chemistry
• 1. Describe the 3 subatomic particles of an
atom.
• 2. List 3 types of chemical bonds, how they
form and their relative strengths. We have not
discussed Van der Waals bonds-they are the
weakest.
• 3. Draw 2 water molecules and identify the
hydrogen bond and the covalent bonds.
Chemistry
• 4. How is hydrogen bonding important to the
unique properties of water? How is “polarity”
of water important?
• 5. Interpret a pH scale.
• 6. How can changes in pH alter biological
molecules? Biological systems?
• 7. Why are buffers important to biological
systems? Ecosystems? Name a buffer or two.
2.Biological molecules
• 1. Distinguish between dehydration synthesis
and hydrolysis. What is the importance?
• 2. List the 4 organic molecule groups and the
elements contained in each. What functional
groups or formulas could be used to recognize
each group?
Biological molecules
• 3. How are each of the 4 organic groups
utilized by cells? In other words, what are
some of their functions?
• 4. Describe the 4 levels of protein structure.
• What sorts of changes can alter structure?
• 5. How does a protein reach its final folding?
Biological molecules: Carbon
• 6. What are the properties of carbon that
make it so important to biological systems?
• 7. Describe how carbon cycles through the
ecosystem and biological systems.
3. The biosphere & population ecology
• 1. Describe the abiotic factors determining
biomes.
• 2. How are biomes similar?
• 3. What changes are occurring that could alter
biomes and their ecosystems within?
the biosphere &Population ecology
• 4. Describe these terms related to
populations: density, dispersion,
demographics
• 5. Distinguish b/n exponential and logistic
growth models.
• 6. Explain the difference b/n density
dependent and density independent factors
controlling populations.
4.Community ecology
• 1. Distinguish b/n fundamental and realized
niche.
• 2. What is competitive exclusion principle?
Provide an example.
• 3. Know examples of : mutualism, parasitism and
commensalism (symbiotic relationships)
• 4. What is a keystone species? Provide an
example.
• 5. Distinguish b/n primary & secondary
succession.
5.Ecosystems
• 1. Describe how energy flows through an
ecosystem in food chains and food webs as
compared to matter through an ecosystem.
• 2. Distinguish b/n gross primary productivity
and net primary productivity.
• 3. Describe the carbon cycle and the nitrogen
cycle in detail. What is their importance to
life?
6. Global change
• 1. Define & Describe the importance of
biodiversity. Compare a specific “diverse”
ecosystem to one that would be considered
“not diverse”.
• 2. Identify several human activities that are
threatening biodiversity. Provide specific
examples. – so to say “pollution” is too vague,
or to say “cutting down trees” is too vague…