Honors Biology

Review Sheet

Characteristics of Life, Scientific Method, SI, Inorganic Chemistry

Introductory Material

1.  Be able define life.

2.  You should be able to discuss in detail

a.  Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and the cell theory

b.  Sexual and asexual reproduction

c.  Phototrophy, chemotrophy, autotrophy, and heterotrophy.

d.  Homeostasis

3.  Be able to discuss the scientific method. You should be able to look at a description of an experiment and identify the variable being tested, the control it is being compared against, and how the rest of the experiment is standardized.

4.  Understand the significance of the SI system. Know the base units for length, mass, volume, time, and temperature. Know how to convert between micro-, milli-, centi-, and kilo.

Inorganic Chemistry

5.  You should be able to describe the structure of an atom (nucleus and electron cloud). You should be able to discuss protons, neutrons, and electrons: where they are found in the atom, their mass, their charge.

6.  Using a periodic chart, you should be able to identify the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in any atom. You should be able to give the valence electrons of the representative elements.

7.  Be able to discuss isotopes and radiation.

8.  Be able to discuss ions. You should be able to draw the electron structure of an atom, determine the number of valence electrons, and estimate whether the atom will gain electrons (become an anion), lose electrons (become a cation), or share electrons (covalently bond) to gain eight valence electrons.

9.  You should be able to describe the difference between ionic attractions and covalent bonds.

10.  You should be able to interpret a chemical formula (H2O is a compound composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom).

11.  You should be able to describe a polar bond, and explain what a hydrogen bond is.

12.  Be able to discuss pH. Know what pH values correspond to acids, bases, and neutral solutions.

13.  Be able to discuss the uniqueness and importance of water to life. You should know cohesion, surface tension, capillary action, its role as a solvent, and the fact that it floats in its solid form and why each of these characteristics is important to biology.