Nursing Elites

1. Deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen, has a nucleus containing:

• A. A single proton
• B. A proton and a neutron
• C. Two protons and an electron
• D. Two neutrons

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Deuterium, as an isotope of hydrogen, has an atomic number of 1 and a mass number of 2. The nucleus of deuterium contains one proton (as in all hydrogen atoms) and one neutron, totaling 2 nucleons in the nucleus. Therefore, the correct answer is that deuterium's nucleus contains a proton and a neutron. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Deuterium is not just a single proton (A), doesn't have two protons and an electron (C), and doesn't contain two neutrons (D). The correct composition of deuterium's nucleus is one proton and one neutron.

2. What is the ultimate end product of glucose breakdown in glycolysis?

• A. ATP
• B. NADPH
• C. Pyruvic acid
• D. Oxygen

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The ultimate end product of glucose breakdown in glycolysis is pyruvic acid. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvic acid through a series of enzymatic reactions. ATP is produced as an energy carrier during glycolysis, but it is not the final end product. NADPH is not a direct product of glycolysis; it is mainly produced in the pentose phosphate pathway. Oxygen is not a product of glycolysis but is used as an electron acceptor in the electron transport chain of cellular respiration.

3. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting which neurotransmitter?

• A. Dopamine
• B. Acetylcholine
• C. Serotonin
• D. Glutamate

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in coordinating movement. The reduction of dopamine levels leads to the characteristic motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Choice B, acetylcholine, is involved in functions like muscle contraction and autonomic nervous system regulation but is not primarily affected in Parkinson's disease. Serotonin (Choice C) is involved in mood regulation and sleep, not the main neurotransmitter affected in Parkinson's disease. Glutamate (Choice D) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and is not primarily implicated in Parkinson's disease pathophysiology.

4. Where in the cell are proteins modified, sorted, and packaged for transport?

• A. Ribosomes
• B. Golgi apparatus
• C. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
• D. Lysosomes

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The Golgi apparatus is the cellular organelle responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for transport within the cell or for secretion outside the cell. Ribosomes are not involved in modifying, sorting, or packaging proteins; they are responsible for protein synthesis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is primarily involved in protein synthesis and folding, rather than modification and packaging for transport. Lysosomes function in breaking down cellular waste rather than modifying, sorting, or packaging proteins for transport.

5. What is the mass number of an element?

• A. The number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
• B. The number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
• C. The number of electrons in an atom's valence shell.
• D. The number of isotopes of an element.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The mass number of an element represents the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. It specifically focuses on the number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus, which contributes to the overall mass of the atom. Therefore, the mass number is not solely determined by the number of protons, electrons, or isotopes. Choice A is incorrect because it refers to the atomic number, which is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Choice C is incorrect as the number of electrons in the valence shell is related to the atom's reactivity and bonding behavior, not the mass number. Choice D is incorrect because the mass number does not represent the number of isotopes of an element, but rather the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. Thus, option B, the number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus, is the correct choice.

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