AAMC Practice Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
In the chromatography of the reaction mixture, water absorbed on cellulose functioned as the
stationary phase. What was the principal factor determining the migration of individual
components in the sample?
A. Hydrogen bonding
B. Solute concentration
C. Stationary phase concentration
D. Thickness of paper - CORRECT ANSWER A.
The immobilized water molecules bind to those components in the sample mixture capable of
accepting or donating hydrogen bonds. Those components with stronger hydrogen bonding
migrated more slowly.
What assumption is being made if scientists conclude that aspartic acid was formed by the
prebiological synthesis in the passage?
A. Aspartic acid is unstable at temperatures below 150 degrees.
B. All of the malic acid underwent the dehydration reaction to form fumaric/maleic acid
C. Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive Earth.
D. The reaction between ammonia and fumaric acid was catalyzed by the presence of water. -
CORRECT ANSWER C.
Without Compound A and cyanide, no aspartic acid can form.
Which of the following statements does NOT correctly describe the dehydration of malic acid
to fumaric acid and maleic acid?
A. the reaction occurs most readily with tertiary alcohols.
, B. the reaction involves the loss of a water molecule.
C. The reaction has a carbocation intermediate.
D. The reaction is stereospecific. - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Because of the carbocation intermediate in dehydration, the subsequent loss of a proton will
lead to a mixture of cis- and trans- alkenes. Thus, dehydration is NOT stereospecific.
A: tertiary alcohols readily dehydrate
B: dehydration is loss of a water molecule by definition
C: during dehydration, a carbocation forms
What type of functional group is formed when aspartic acid reacts with another amino acid to
form a peptide bond?
A. An amine group
B. An aldehyde group
C. An amide group
D. A carboxyl group - CORRECT ANSWER C.
The functional group that represents a peptide bond is called an amide group
A: An amine is one of the functional groups that reacts to form a peptide bond, not the
peptide bond itself.
B: An aldehyde is RCHO, whereas the product is an amide, RCONHR'
D: A carboxyl group reacts with an amine to form a peptide bond
R vs S configuration - CORRECT ANSWER R: clockwise
S: counterclockwise
Acetic acid and ethanol react to form an ester product as shown below.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
In the chromatography of the reaction mixture, water absorbed on cellulose functioned as the
stationary phase. What was the principal factor determining the migration of individual
components in the sample?
A. Hydrogen bonding
B. Solute concentration
C. Stationary phase concentration
D. Thickness of paper - CORRECT ANSWER A.
The immobilized water molecules bind to those components in the sample mixture capable of
accepting or donating hydrogen bonds. Those components with stronger hydrogen bonding
migrated more slowly.
What assumption is being made if scientists conclude that aspartic acid was formed by the
prebiological synthesis in the passage?
A. Aspartic acid is unstable at temperatures below 150 degrees.
B. All of the malic acid underwent the dehydration reaction to form fumaric/maleic acid
C. Compound A and cyanide were available on primitive Earth.
D. The reaction between ammonia and fumaric acid was catalyzed by the presence of water. -
CORRECT ANSWER C.
Without Compound A and cyanide, no aspartic acid can form.
Which of the following statements does NOT correctly describe the dehydration of malic acid
to fumaric acid and maleic acid?
A. the reaction occurs most readily with tertiary alcohols.
, B. the reaction involves the loss of a water molecule.
C. The reaction has a carbocation intermediate.
D. The reaction is stereospecific. - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Because of the carbocation intermediate in dehydration, the subsequent loss of a proton will
lead to a mixture of cis- and trans- alkenes. Thus, dehydration is NOT stereospecific.
A: tertiary alcohols readily dehydrate
B: dehydration is loss of a water molecule by definition
C: during dehydration, a carbocation forms
What type of functional group is formed when aspartic acid reacts with another amino acid to
form a peptide bond?
A. An amine group
B. An aldehyde group
C. An amide group
D. A carboxyl group - CORRECT ANSWER C.
The functional group that represents a peptide bond is called an amide group
A: An amine is one of the functional groups that reacts to form a peptide bond, not the
peptide bond itself.
B: An aldehyde is RCHO, whereas the product is an amide, RCONHR'
D: A carboxyl group reacts with an amine to form a peptide bond
R vs S configuration - CORRECT ANSWER R: clockwise
S: counterclockwise
Acetic acid and ethanol react to form an ester product as shown below.
