Biochemistry Questions and Answers –

Amino Acids
This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Biosynthesis of Amino Acids”.

1. 3-phosphoglycerate is not the metabolic precursor for

a) Serine
b) Glycine
c) Cysteine
d) Arginine
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: α-ketoglutarate is the precursor for arginine.

2. Pyruvate is the precursor for

a) Alanine
b) Glutamate
c) Serine
d) Proline
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: α-ketoglutarate is the precursor for glutamate and proline. 3-phosphoglycerate is
the precursor for serine.

3. The cyclized derivative of glutamate is

a) Proline
b) Arginine
c) Glutamine
d) Serine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Proline is the cyclized derivative of glutamate.

4. Precursor of glycine is
a) Proline
b) Glutamine
c) Serine
d) Glutamate
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Precursor of glycine and cysteine is serine.

5. Which of the following is a non-essential amino acid?

a) Methionine
b) Threonine
c) Lysine
d) Cysteine
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Methionine, threonine, lysine, isoleucine, valine and leucine are essential amino
acids.

6. Which of the following gives rise to methionine, threonine and lysine?

a) Pyruvate
b) Glutamate
c) Aspartate
d) Serine
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Pyruvate gives rise to valine and isoleucine. Glutamate gives rise to glutamine,
arginine and proline. Serine gives rise to glycine and cysteine.

7. Which of the following gives rise to valine and isoleucine?

a) Pyruvate
b) Glutamate
c) Aspartate
d) Serine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Aspartate gives rise to methionine, threonine and lysine. Glutamate gives rise to
glutamine, arginine and proline. Serine gives rise to glycine and cysteine.

8. Which of the following is not an aromatic amino acid?

a) Phenylalanine
b) Tyrosine
c) Tryptophan
d) Leucine
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Leucine is a non-aromatic amino acid.
9. Which of the following can be formed by hydroxylation of phenylalanine?
a) Serine
b) Tyrosine
c) Tryptophan
d) Leucine
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Tyrosine can be formed by hydroxylation of phenylalanine.

10. Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate is a precursor of tryptophan and

a) Tyrosine
b) Histidine
c) Phenylalanine
d) Isoleucine
View Answer

Answer:
Explanation: Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate is a precursor of tryptophan and histidine.

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Amino
Acids”.

1. Identify the amino acids containing nonpolar, aliphatic R groups

a) Phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan
b) Glycine, alanine, leucine
c) Lysine, arginine, histidine
d) Serine, threonine, cysteine
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation:
Glycine: H3 N+ – CH2 – COO–
Alanine: H3 N+ – CH(CH3) – COO–
Leucine: H3 N+ – CH(C4 H9) – COO–.

2. The two amino acids having R groups with a negative net charge at pH 7.0 are
a) Aspartate and glutamate
b) Arginine and histidine
c) Cysteine and methionine
d) Proline and valine
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation:
Aspartate: H3 N+ – CH( CH2 COO– ) – COO–
Glutamate: H3 N+ – CH( C2 H4 COO– ) – COO–.

3. If pK1 = 2.34 and pK2 = 9.60, then the isoelectric point pI is

a) 5.87
b) 5.97
c) 3.67
d) 11.94
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: pI = 1⁄2 (pK1 + pK2 ) = 1⁄2 (2.34 + 9.60) = 5.97.

4. Which of the following is a true statement?

a) Tryptophan and tyrosine are significantly more polar than phenylalanine
b) Leucine is commonly used as an ingredient in the buffers of SDS page
c) Aspartate is an essential amino acid
d) Lysine is a non-essential amino acid
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Tryptophan and tyrosine are significantly more polar than phenylalanine because of
the tyrosine hydroxyl group and the nitrogen of the tryptophan indole ring.

5. Which among the following is a non-essential amino acid?

a) Serine
b) Threonine
c) Lysine
d) Histidine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Serine is one of the 11 non-essential amino acids.

6. Which of the following is an essential amino acid?

a) Cysteine
b) Asparagine
c) Glutamine
d) Phenylalanine
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Phenylalanine is one of the 9 essential amino acids.
7. Which of the following is an imino acid?
a) Alanine
b) Glycine
c) Proline
d) Serine
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Proline is secondary amino acid also called as an imino acid as it contains –C = NH
– OH group.

8. Which among the following is both glucogenic and ketogenic?

a) Isoleucine
b) Leucine
c) Lysine
d) Histidine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Isoleucine produces both glucose and ketone bodies as an energy source.

9. An amino acid that yields acetoacetyl CoA during the catabolism of its carbon skeleton will be
considered
a) Glycogenic
b) Ketogenic
c) Both glycogenic and ketogenic
d) Essential
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: In case of Glycogenic amino acids pyruvate metabolites are formed and in case of
ketogenic amino acids acetoacyl CoA is formed during the catabolism.

10. Number of chiral centers in isoleucine is

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: H5 C2 – C Ḣ (CH3 )- C ̇H(NH2 ) – COOH
The structure clearly shows two chiral centers of isoleucine

1. What is the concentration of OH– in a solution with a H+ concentration of 1.3×10-4 M?

a) 7.7×10-10 M
b) 7.7×10-9 M
c) 7.7×10-11 M
d) 7.7×10-12 M
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Kw = [H+ ][OH–] Solving for [OH–] gives

[OH– ]=(Kw )/([H+]) = (1.0 X 10-14)/(1.3 X 10-4 ) M

= 7.7 × 10-11 M.

2. Identify the triprotic acid from the following

a) Carbonic acid
b) Bicarbonate
c) Glycine
d) Phosphoric acid
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Phosphoric acid is triprotic as it can give up three protons

3. Which of the following acids has the lowest pKa value?

a) Acetic acid
b) Sulphuric acid
c) Dil.HCl
d) Oxalic acid
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The stronger the acid, the lower its pKa. Sulphuric acid is the strongest acid of all
the other acids mentioned, so its pKa is the least.

4. Which of the following bases has the highest pKa value?

a) NaOH
b) NaNO3
c) KNO3
d) KCl
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The stronger the base, the higher its pKa. NaOH is the strongest base of all the other
bases mentioned, so its pKa is the highest.
5. The degree of ionization does not depend on?
a) Temperature
b) Current
c) Nature of solvent
d) Concentration
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Degree of ionization is independent of current. It depends only on temperature,
nature of solvent and concentration.

6. The hydrolysis constant of CH3 COONa is given by

a) Kh = Kw/Ka
b) Kh = Kw/Kb
c) Kh = Kw/Ka×Kb
d) Kh = Ka + Kb
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: CH3 COONa is a salt of weak acid and strong base.

7. K1 and K2 for oxalic acid are 6.5×10-2and 6.1×10-5respectively. What will be the [OH–] in a
0.01M solution of sodium oxalate?
a) 9.6×10-6
b) 1.4×10-1
c) 1.2×10-6
d) 1.3×10-8
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The hydrolysis of C2 O42- is as follows
C2 O42-+ H2 O → HC2O4- + OH–

8. If pKb for fluoride at 25°c is 10.83, the ionization constant of hydrofluoric acid in water at this
temperature is
a) 3.52×10-3
b) 6.75×10-4
c) 5.38×10-2
d) 1.74×10-5
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Kw = Ka × Kb
Ka = Kw / Kb
Ka = 10-14/-log (10.83) = 6.75 × 10-4.
 advertisement

9. Aqueous solution of the detergents are

a) Neutral
b) Acidic
c) Basic
d) Amphoteric
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Detergent is a salt of weak acid and strong base.

10. If pH of solution of NaOH is 12.0 the pH of H2 SO4 solution of same molarity will be
a) 2.0
b) 12.0
c) 1.7
d) 10.0387
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: pH = 12 then pOH = 2
[OH–] = 10-2
Molarity of NaOH = 10-2
For H2 SO4, molarity = 10-2
[H+] = 2 × 10-2
pH = 2 – log2 = 1.7.

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Examples
Of Enzymatic actions”.

1. By what factor chymotrypsin enhances the rate of peptide bond hydrolysis?

a) 107
b) 108
c) At least 109
d) 106
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Chymotrypsin enhances the rate of peptide bond hydrolysis by a factor of at least
109.

2. The active site of chymotrypsin consists of a catalytic triad of which of the following amino
acid residues?
a) Serine, histidine and aspartate
b) Serine, histidine and glutamate
c) Threonine, histidine and aspartate
d) Methionine, histidine and aspartate
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Aspartate holds the histidine side chain in the correct direction to accept proton
from serine.

3. Which of the following statements are true about the reactions at the active center of
chymotrypsin?
a) The aspartate residue gives an electron to histidine
b) The aspartate residue gives a proton to histidine
c) The aspartate residue keeps the histidine in the correct direction
d) A proton moves from the aspartate to serine to histidine in the catalytic triad of chymotrypsin
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Aspartate residue accepts a proton from serine.

4. The polypeptide chains in chymotrypsin are linked by

a) Hydrogen bonds
b) Ionic bonds
c) Disulfide bond
d) SH-SH bond
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The protein consists of three polypeptide chains linked by disulfide bonds.

5. Which of the following is false about chymotrypsin?

a) Hydrolytic cleavage of a peptide bond by chymotrypsin has two phases
b) It is activated in the presence of trypsin
c) It is synthesized in the thyroid gland
d) Polypeptide chains in chymotrypsin are linked by S-S bonds
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Chymotrypsin is synthesized in the pancreas.

6. Which of the following is true about the structure of hexokinase?

a) U-shaped
b) T-shaped
c) E-shaped
d) G-shaped
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Hexokinase has a U-shaped structure.

7. Which of the following is true?

a) Xylose is stereo chemically similar to glucose but one carbon shorter
b) Xylose binds to hexokinase in a position where it can be phosphorylated
c) Addition of xylose increases the rate of ATP hydrolysis
d) The binding of xylose is sufficient to induce a change in hexokinase to its active conformation
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Xylose binds to hexokinase at a position where it cannot be phosphorylated.

8. Which of the following catalyzes the reversible degradation of 2-phosphoglycerate to

phosphoenolpyruvate?
a) Chymotrypsin
b) Hexokinase
c) Enolase
d) Trypsin
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Enolase catalyzes the reversible degradation of 2-phosphoglycerate to
phosphoenolpyruvate.

9. Which of the following catalyzes the reversible reaction of β-D-Glucose to glucose 6-

phosphate?
a) Chymotrypsin
b) Hexokinase
c) Enolase
d) Trypsin
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hexokinase catalyzes the reversible reaction of β-D-Glucose to glucose 6-
phosphate.

10. Which of the following is false about lysozyme?

a) It is an antibacterial agent found in tears and egg white
b) The substrate of lysozyme is peptidoglycan
c) Lysozyme cleaves (β1 → 4) glycosidic C-O bonds between two types of sugar residue in the
molecule NAM and NAG
d) It is a bisubstrate enzyme
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Hexokinase is the bisubstrate enzyme.

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “The
Covalent Structure of Proteins”.

1. Which of the following statements is false?

a) Primary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three dimensional
structure
b) Secondary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three dimensional
structure
c) Three dimensional structure of a protein determines the function of a protein
d) Amino acid sequence is absolutely invariant for a particular protein
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Primary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three
dimensional structure, which in turn determines the function of a protein.

2. Who deduced the double-helical structure of DNA?

a) Frederick Sanger
b) Mendel
c) Watson and Francis Crick
d) Anton van Leeuwenhoek
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: In 1953 James D. Watson and Francis Crick deduced the double-helical structure of
DNA and proposed a structural basis for its precise replication.

3. Two chains of amino acids in an insulin molecule are held together by

a) Sulfide bridges
b) Disulfide bridges
c) Peptide bond
d) Covalent linkage
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: When we consider amino acid sequence of bovine insulin, the two peptide chains
are joined together by disulfide cross linkages.

4. Tertiary conformation of proteins is maintained by 3 types of bonds namely ionic, hydrogen

and
a) Sulfide
b) Disulfide
c) Covalent
d) Peptide
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Ionic interactions, hydrogen and disulfide linkages stabilizes tertiary structure of a
protein.

5. Hemoglobin is a
a) Monomer
b) Dimer
c) Trimer
d) Tetramer
View Answer

Answer:d
It is a tetramer with 2 α chains and 2β chains.

6. Which of the following is false?

a) The two main types of secondary structure are the α helix and β pleet structures
b) α helix is a right handed coiled strand
c) The hydrogen bonding in a β-sheet is between strands rather than within strands
d) The hydrogen bonding in a β-sheet is within strands rather than between strands
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The sheet conformation consists of a pair of strands lying side-by-side. The
carbonyl oxygen in one strand hydrogen bond with the amino hydrogen of the adjacent strand.

7. Native state of a protein can be disrupted by

a) Temperature
b) pH
c) Removal of water
d) Presence of hydrophilic surfaces
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Native state of a protein can be disrupted by temperature, pH, Removal of water
and presence of hydrophobic surfaces.

8. Which of the following is true?

a) The disulfide bridges formed by reduction of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine stabilizes
protein tertiary structure
b) The disulfide bridges formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine destabilizes
protein tertiary structure
c) The disulfide bridges formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine stabilizes
protein tertiary structure
d) The disulfide bridges formed by reduction of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine destabilizes
protein tertiary structure
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The disulfide bridge formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine
stabilizes protein tertiary structure, allowing different parts of the protein chain to be held
together covalently.

9. Identify the wrong statement

a) Hemoglobin is a globular protein
b) Hemoglobin is a fibrous protein
c) Fibrous proteins are insoluble in water
d) Collagen is a fibrous protein
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hemoglobin is a globular protein and collagen is a fibrous protein.

10. In 3° structure of proteins, folding and shaping is done by

a) Hydrophobic interactions
b) Polar interactions
c) Hydrogen bonding
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Globular proteins have tertiary structure with hydrophobic amino acid residues and
a surface region of hydrophilic residues; these hydrophobic interactions are responsible for the
folding and shaping of 3° structure of proteins

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Monosaccharides and Disaccharides”.

1. Anthrone method is preferred in the determination of

a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Vitamins
d) Fats
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Carbohydrates are dehydrated with con.H2SO4 to form Furfural, which condenses
with anthrone to form a green color.
2. Which of the following are an example of epimers?
a) Glucose & Galactose
b) Glucose & Ribose
c) Mannose & Glucose
d) a & c
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Both glucose and galactose have the same chemical formula but the orientation of –
OH group on C4 molecule in both the compounds are different.

3. One of the following has reducing properties

a) Glucuronic acid
b) Gluconic acid
c) Glucaric acid
d) Mucic acid
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Glucuronic acid has free aldehyde group which is responsible for its reducing
property.

4. The red precipitate formed when glucose is heated with “Benedict’s reagent” is
a) Cupric hydroxide
b) Cuprous hydroxide
c) Cupric oxide
d) Cuprous oxide
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: When reducing sugars are heated in the presence of an alkali and reduce the Cupric
compounds present in the Benedict’s reagent to cuprous compounds which get precipitated as
insoluble red Cu2O.

5. Fructose and Glucose can be distinguished by

a) Selwinoff’s reagent
b) Benedict’s reagent
c) Fehling’s reagent
d) Barfoed’s reagent
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Selwinoff’s reagent gives positive test for fructose.

6. Which of the following is an example of monosaccharide?

a) Galactose
b) Sucrose
c) Lactose
d) Maltose
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Galactose is a simple sugar which consists of a single polyhydroxy aldehyde.

7. Which of the following is an example of disaccharide?

a) Glucose
b) Fructose
c) Galactose
d) Maltose
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Maltose is a disaccharide with two monosaccharide glucose units.

8. In maltose, between which of the following carbons there is a linkage?

a) C1, C2
b) C2, C3
c) C1, C4
d) C2, C4
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Maltose contains two D-glucose residues joined by a glycosidic linkage between
C1 of one glucose residue and C4 of the other.

9. Which of the following carbohydrates is a triose?

a) Glucose
b) Ribose
c) Ribulose
d) Glyceraldehyde
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Glyceraldehyde is a triose containing 3 carbons.

10. Lactose is a disaccharide of which of the following sugar units?

a) Glucose and fructose
b) Glucose and galactose
c) Glucose and sucrose
d) Glucose and ribose
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Lactose is a disaccharide of glucose and galactose

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Polysaccharides”.

1. Which of the following is an example of bacterial and yeast polysaccharide?

a) Starch
b) Glycogen
c) Cellulose
d) Dextrans
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Dental plaque formed by bacteria on the surface of teeth is rich in dextrans.

2. In which of the following, glucose residues are linked by β1 &arr; 4 glycosidic bonds?
a) Amylose
b) Starch
c) Cellulose
d) Glycogen
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The glucose residues in cellulose are linked by β1 &arr; 4 glycosidic bonds, in
contrast to the α1 &arr; 4 bonds of amylose, starch and glycogen.

3. What is the chemical difference between cellulose and chitin?

a) Replacement of the hydroxyl group at C2 with an acetylated amino group
b) Replacement of the hydroxyl group at C3 with an acetylated amino group
c) Replacement of the hydroxyl group at C4 with an acetylated amino group
d) Replacement of the hydroxyl group at C5 with an acetylated amino group
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Chitin is a linear homopolysaccharide composed of N-acetylglucosamine residues
in β linkage.

4. When all the monosaccharides in a polysaccharide are same type, such type of a
polysaccharide is called a
a) Glycogen
b) Homoglycan
c) Heteroglycan
d) Oligosaccharide
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Homoglycan is a polysaccharide where all the monosaccharides are same type.

5. In which of the following forms, glucose is stored in plants?

a) Glycogen
b) Starch
c) Dextrin
d) Cellulose
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Starch is the storage form of glucose in plants.

6. In which of the following forms, glucose is stored in liver?

a) Glycogen
b) Starch
c) Dextrin
d) Cellulose
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Glucose in the form of glycogen is stored in liver and muscles.

7. Which of the following are the storage polysaccharides?

a) Glycogen
b) Cellulose
c) Chitin
d) Glucose
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Starch and glycogen are known as storage polysaccharides.

8. Which of the following are the structural polysaccharides?

a) Glycogen
b) Starch
c) Chitin
d) Glucose
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Chitin and cellulose are known as structural polysaccharides.

9. Which of the following is an analogous to starch?

a) Cellulose
b) Glycogen
c) Sucrose
d) Chitin
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Glycogen is also known as animal starch.

10. Which of the following is not a monosaccharide with 5 carbon atoms?

a) Arabinose
b) Xylulose
c) Trehalose
d) Ribulose
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Trehalose is a disaccharide.

This set of Biochemistry Questions and Answers for Freshers focuses on “Buffering against pH
changes in Biological Systems”.

1. Which can act as buffer?

a) NH4 Cl + HCl
b) CH3 COOH + H2 CO3
c) 40ml of 0.1M NaCN + 20ml of 0.1M HCN
d) NaCl + NaOH
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: It is a mixture of weak acid and its salt with strong base.

2. Calculate the pH of a mixture of 0.10M acetic acid and 0.20M sodium acetate. The pKa of
acetic acid is 4.76.
a) 5.1
b) 4.1
c) 6.1
d) 7.1
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: pH = pKa + log [acetate]/[acetic acid] = 4.76 + log (0.2/0.1)
= 4.76 + 0.30
= 5.1.

3. Calculate the pKa of lactic acid, given that when the concentration of lactic acid is 0.010M and
the concentration of lactate is 0.087M, the pH is 4.80.
a) 4.0
b) 3.9
c) 3.3
d) 4.1
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: pH = pKa + log [lactate]/[lactic acid] pKa = pH – log [lactate]/[lactic acid] = 4.80 –
log (0.087/0.010) = 4.80 – log 8.7
= 3.9.

4. Calculate the ratio of the concentrations of acetate and acetic acid required in a buffer system
of pH 5.30.
a) 3.2
b) 3.3
c) 3.4
d) 3.5
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: pH = pKa + log [acetate]/[acetic acid], log [acetate]/[acetic acid] = pH – pKa
= 5.30 – 4.76 = 0.54
[acetate]/ [acetic acid] = antilog 0.54 = 3.5.

5. Assertion A: pH of a buffer solution solution does not change on dilution.

Reason R: On dilution the ration of concentration of salt and acid (or base) remains unchanged.
a) A and R are true, R is the correct explanation of A
b) A and R are true, R is not correct explanation of A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: On dilution pH of buffer solution remains unchanged because the ratio of
concentration of salt and acid (or base) remains unchanged.

6. Which of the following mixture in aqueous solution of equimolar concentration acts as a

buffer solution?
a) HNO3 + NaOH
b) H2 SO4 + KOH
c) NH4 OH(excess) + HCl
d) CH3 COOH + NaOH(excess)
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: NH4 OH(excess) + HCl → NH4 Cl + H2 O
So the mixture contains NH4 OH + NH4 Cl.

7. 1M NaCl and 1M HCl are present in an aqueous solution. The solution is

a) Not a buffer solution with pH < 7
b) Not a buffer solution with pH > 7
c) A buffer solution with pH < 7
d) A buffer solution with pH > 7
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: It is a neutral solution and its pH = 7.

8. For an acid buffer solution the pH is 3. The pH can be increased by

a) Increasing the concentration of salt
b) Increasing the concentration of acid
c) Decreasing the concentration of salt
d) Independent of concentration of acid & salt
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: An acid buffer is a mixture of weak acid and its salt with strong base, its pH
increases by increasing the concentration of salt.

9. The buffer capacity is equal to

a) Δn / ΔpH
b) pH / Δn
c) ± 1pKa
d) ± 2pKa
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Buffer capacity = number of moles of acid or base added to 1 liter of buffer/change
in pH.

10. Buffer capacity is maximum when

a) One mole of NH4 Cl is added to two moles of NH4 OH
b) One mole of NH4 Cl is added to one moles of NH4 OH
c) One mole of NH4 Cl is added to one mole of NaOH
d) One mole of NaCl is added to one mole of NaOH
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Buffer has more capacity when pH = pKa.
This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Water as a
Reactant”.

1. A) CuSO4 + 5H2 O CuSO4.5H2 O

B) PCl3 + 3H2 O H3 PO3 + 3HCl
The processes A and B are respectively
a) Hydration and dehydration
b) Hydration and hydrolysis
c) Hydrolysis and hydrolysis
d) Hydration and hydration
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Process A involves absorption of water and B involves double decomposition
reaction.

2. Which of the following is not a condensation reaction?

a) ADP + inorganic phosphate ATP + H2O
b) R-OH + inorganic phosphate phosphate ester + H2 O
c) R-COOH + inorganic phosphate Acyl phosphate + H2 O
d) 6CO2 + 6 H2 O C6 H12 O6 + 6CO2
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Condensation reaction involves elimination of water molecules.

3. Which of the following is the correct equation?

a) CO2 + H2 O H2 CO3
b) CO2 + H2 O HCO3
c) CO2 + H2 O H3 CO3
d) CO2 + H2 O H2 CO2
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The correct balanced equation is CO2 + H2 O H2 CO3. Carbondioxide reacts with
water to give carbonic acid.

4. Consider the following reaction, in the presence of light

2H2 O + 2X O2 + 2XH2
Which of the following statements is true?
a) X is electron-accepting specie
b) X is electron-donating specie
c) Water is an electron acceptor
d) Water neither donates nor accepts any electron
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: In this oxidation reduction sequence, water serves as the electron donor and X
serves as an electron acceptor.

5. Hydrolysis reactions are catalyzed by enzymes called

a) Oxidoreductase
b) Ligase
c) Hydrolase
d) Isomerase
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Hydrolases, which catalyze hydrolysis reaction involve in food decomposition and
in digestion process.

6. What does it mean when we say that water acts as a “heat buffer”?
a) It keeps the temperature of an organism relatively constant as the temperature of the
surroundings fluctuates.
b) It increases the temperature of an organism as the temperature of the surroundings increases
c) It decreases the temperature of an organism as the temperature of the surroundings increases
d) It increases the temperature of an organism as the temperature of the surroundings decreases
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Water has a high specific heat capacity, it is hard to increase or decrease the water
temperature which requires a lot of heat energy and therefore water acts as a heat buffer.

7. Which of the following does not react with water?

a) Barium
b) Calcium
c) Beryllium
d) Strontium
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Be is the only alkaline earth metal which does not react with water.

8. What trend does the reactivity of group II elements follow with water?
a) Increases down the group
b) Decreases down the group
c) Does not follow any particular trend
d) No reaction
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: As we descend down the group, losing of electrons from the outer orbit of an atom
becomes easy.

9. Which among the following statements is true about the following chemical reaction?
3Fe(s) + 4H2 O → Fe3 O4 (s) + 4H2
a) Iron metal is getting reduced.
b) Water is acting as a reducing agent
c) Water is acting as an oxidizing agent
d) Water is getting oxidized
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Water is getting reduced and it oxidizes iron metal, thus acting as an oxidizing
agent.

10. Identify the products formed in the following reaction

CH3 COOCH3 + H2 O → A + B
a) CH3 COOH and CH3 OH
b) CH3 COOOH and CH4
c) CO2 and C2 H6
d) No reaction
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Ester Hydrolysis
CH3 COOCH3 + H2 O → CH3 COOH + CH3 OH

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “The
Covalent Structure of Proteins”.

1. Which of the following statements is false?

a) Primary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three dimensional
structure
b) Secondary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three dimensional
structure
c) Three dimensional structure of a protein determines the function of a protein
d) Amino acid sequence is absolutely invariant for a particular protein
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Primary structure of a protein determines how it folds up into a unique three
dimensional structure, which in turn determines the function of a protein.
2. Who deduced the double-helical structure of DNA?
a) Frederick Sanger
b) Mendel
c) Watson and Francis Crick
d) Anton van Leeuwenhoek
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: In 1953 James D. Watson and Francis Crick deduced the double-helical structure of
DNA and proposed a structural basis for its precise replication.

3. Two chains of amino acids in an insulin molecule are held together by

a) Sulfide bridges
b) Disulfide bridges
c) Peptide bond
d) Covalent linkage
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: When we consider amino acid sequence of bovine insulin, the two peptide chains
are joined together by disulfide cross linkages.

4. Tertiary conformation of proteins is maintained by 3 types of bonds namely ionic, hydrogen

and
a) Sulfide
b) Disulfide
c) Covalent
d) Peptide
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Ionic interactions, hydrogen and disulfide linkages stabilizes tertiary structure of a
protein.

5. Hemoglobin is a
a) Monomer
b) Dimer
c) Trimer
d) Tetramer
View Answer

Answer: It is a tetramer with 2 α chains and 2β chains.

6. Which of the following is false?

a) The two main types of secondary structure are the α helix and β pleet structures
b) α helix is a right handed coiled strand
c) The hydrogen bonding in a β-sheet is between strands rather than within strands
d) The hydrogen bonding in a β-sheet is within strands rather than between strands
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The sheet conformation consists of a pair of strands lying side-by-side. The
carbonyl oxygen in one strand hydrogen bond with the amino hydrogen of the adjacent strand.

7. Native state of a protein can be disrupted by

a) Temperature
b) pH
c) Removal of water
d) Presence of hydrophilic surfaces
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Native state of a protein can be disrupted by temperature, pH, Removal of water
and presence of hydrophobic surfaces.

8. Which of the following is true?

a) The disulfide bridges formed by reduction of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine stabilizes
protein tertiary structure
b) The disulfide bridges formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine destabilizes
protein tertiary structure
c) The disulfide bridges formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine stabilizes
protein tertiary structure
d) The disulfide bridges formed by reduction of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine destabilizes
protein tertiary structure
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The disulfide bridge formed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups on cysteine
stabilizes protein tertiary structure, allowing different parts of the protein chain to be held
together covalently.

9. Identify the wrong statement

a) Hemoglobin is a globular protein
b) Hemoglobin is a fibrous protein
c) Fibrous proteins are insoluble in water
d) Collagen is a fibrous protein
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hemoglobin is a globular protein and collagen is a fibrous protein.
10. In 3° structure of proteins, folding and shaping is done by
a) Hydrophobic interactions
b) Polar interactions
c) Hydrogen bonding
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Globular proteins have tertiary structure with hydrophobic amino acid residues and
a surface region of hydrophilic residues; these hydrophobic interactions are responsible for the
folding and shaping of 3° structure of proteins

This set of Biochemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Protein
Secondary Structure”.

1. Which of the following does not affect the stability of a α-helix?

a) Electrostatic repulsion
b) Bulkiness
c) Interaction between R groups spaced three residues apart
d) Occurrence of alanine and glycine residues
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The occurrence of Proline and Glycine residues affect the stability of a α-helix.

2. Which of the following is not true about secondary protein structure?

a) The hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of amino acid residues is important to secondary
structure.
b) The ability of peptide bonds to form intramolecular hydrogen bonds is important to secondary
structure.
c) The alpha helix, beta pleated sheet and beta turns are examples of protein secondary structure.
d) The steric influence of amino acid residues is important to secondary structure.
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The hydrophilic / hydrophobic character of amino acid residues is important to
protein tertiary structure rather than to secondary structure. In secondary structure, it is the steric
size of the residues that is important and residues are positioned to minimize interactions
between each other and the peptide chain.

3. β-pleated sheets are the examples of

a) Primary structure
b) Secondary structure
c) Tertiary structure
d) Quaternary structure
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Secondary structure of proteins is of two forms α-helix and β-pleated structures.

4. A coiled peptide chain held in place by hydrogen bonding between peptide bonds in the same
chain is
a) Primary structure
b) α-helix
c) β-pleated sheets
d) Tertiary structure
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: A coiled peptide chain held in place by hydrogen bonding between peptide bonds in
the same chain is α helix.

5. A structure that has hydrogen bonds between polypeptide chains arranged side by side is
a) Primary structure
b) α-helix
c) β-pleated sheets
d) Tertiary structure
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: A structure that has hydrogen bonds between polypeptide chains arranged side by
side is β-pleated sheets.

6. Which of the following are known as helix breakers?

a) Proline and glycine
b) Isoleucine and leucine
c) Valine
d) Threonine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Proline and glycine are known as helix breakers as they disrupt the regularity of the
alpha helical backbone conformation.

7. Which of the following is false about NMR spectroscopy?

a) NMR is an abbreviated form of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
b) The intramolecular magnetic field around an atom in a molecule changes the resonance
frequency giving structural information about the atom
c) The intermolecular magnetic field around an atom in a molecule changes the resonance
frequency giving structural information about the atom
d) It is a technique that exploits magnetic properties of atomic nuclei
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The intramolecular magnetic field around an atom in a molecule changes the
resonance frequency giving structural information about the atom.

8. Which of the statements is false about multiple sequence alignment?

a) Both protein and nucleic acid secondary structures can be used
b) More useful in RNA
c) These alignments can be made more accurate by the inclusion of secondary structure
information
d) A significant increase in accuracy
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Less useful in RNA. This is because base pairing is highly conserved than
sequence.

9. Secondary structure is defined by

a) Hydrogen bonding
b) Vander Waals forces
c) Covalent bonding
d) Ionic bonding
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Hydrogen bonding is present between the amine hydrogen and carbonyl oxygen
atoms in the peptide backbone.

10. Which of the following is false statement?

a) α-Keratin is α helical
b) Collagen is α helical
c) Hemoglobin has a quaternary structure
d) α-Keratin is β pleated structure
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Fibrous structural protein, α-Keratin is α helical