Nursing Elites

1. When an acid is added to a base, water and a salt form. What kinds of bonds form in these two compounds?

• A. Liquid and metallic
• B. Polar and nonpolar covalent
• C. Polar covalent and ionic
• D. Ionic only

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In water, the bond formed between the oxygen atom and the hydrogen atoms is a polar covalent bond. The oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. In the salt formed, the bond between the metal cation and the nonmetal anion is predominantly an ionic bond. The metal cation donates electrons to the nonmetal anion, resulting in the formation of oppositely charged ions that are held together by electrostatic attractions. Choices A and B are incorrect because water and salts do not form bonds that are liquid and metallic, or polar and nonpolar covalent. Choice D is incorrect as it oversimplifies the types of bonds present in water and salts, failing to differentiate between the covalent bond in water and the ionic bond in the salt.

2. What is the primary function of enzymes?

• A. To provide energy for reactions
• B. To speed up reactions
• C. To decrease activation energy
• D. To act as a catalyst

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Enzymes function to speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They act as biological catalysts, providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to proceed more rapidly without being consumed in the process. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because enzymes do not provide energy for reactions (they do not generate energy), their primary function is not to decrease activation energy (though they do lower it), and while they act as catalysts, the primary function is to speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.

3. What are proteins made up of?

• A. Fatty acids
• B. Amino acids
• C. Nucleotides
• D. Sugars

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Proteins are made up of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, essential for various biological processes in the body such as enzyme function, transport, and structural support. Fatty acids (Choice A) are components of lipids, not proteins. Nucleotides (Choice C) are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, not proteins. Sugars (Choice D) are carbohydrates and are not the primary components of proteins.

4. Which of the following substances is a base?

• A. Water
• B. Sodium chloride
• C. Ammonia
• D. Salt

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Ammonia' (Choice C) as it is a common example of a base. Bases are substances that release hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solutions, helping to increase the pH level. Ammonia is a weak base that can accept a proton (H+) to form ammonium hydroxide. In contrast, water (Choice A), sodium chloride (Choice B), and salt (Choice D) are not bases; water is neutral, while sodium chloride and salt are neutral compounds composed of a cation and an anion.

5. What number represents the number of protons an element has?

• A. Atomic mass
• B. Mass number
• C. Atomic number
• D. Neutron number

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, atomic number. The atomic number corresponds to the number of protons in an element. This number is unique to each element and determines its placement on the periodic table. It is equal to the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. Choice A, atomic mass, represents the average mass of an element's isotopes. Choice B, mass number, is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom. Choice D, neutron number, specifically refers to the count of neutrons in an atom and not protons.

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