Chemistry Basics Flashcards

Which type of chemical bond involves the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another?

Answer: Ionic bond

Ionic bonds form when one atom completely transfers electrons to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

A solution with a pH of 3 is how many times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 5?

Answer: 100 times

Each pH unit represents a 10-fold difference, so a difference of 2 pH units equals 100-fold difference in hydrogen ion concentration.

Which of the following best describes an oxidation reaction?

Answer: Loss of electrons

Oxidation is defined as the loss of electrons from a substance, while reduction is the gain of electrons.

What is the molarity of a solution containing 2 moles of NaCl dissolved in 500 mL of water?

Answer: 4 M

Molarity = moles of solute / liters of solution = 2 mol / 0.5 L = 4 M.

In a clinical lab, a buffer solution is used primarily to:

Answer: Resist changes in pH

Buffers resist changes in pH by neutralizing added acids or bases, maintaining a stable environment for chemical reactions.

Which of the following is a property of water that makes it an excellent biological solvent?

Answer: It has high polarity and hydrogen bonding

Water's polar nature and hydrogen bonding ability allow it to dissolve a wide range of ionic and polar substances found in biological systems.

A laboratory technician prepares a 1:10 dilution of a patient serum sample. If the original concentration of glucose is 200 mg/dL, what is the concentration in the diluted sample?

Answer: 20 mg/dL

A 1:10 dilution means 1 part sample in 10 parts total, so the concentration is divided by 10: 200 / 10 = 20 mg/dL.