BIOLOGY 189 FINAL WITH 100%
APPROVED SOLUTIONS 2026/2027
STUDY SET
1. What are the three subatomic particles?
A. Protons, neutrons, positrons
B. Protons, neutrons, electrons
C. Electrons, neutrons, quarks
D. Protons, electrons, ions
Answer: B
Rationale: The three fundamental subatomic particles are protons (positive),
neutrons (neutral), and electrons (negative).
2. What is a proton?
A. Subatomic particle with negative charge outside the nucleus
B. Subatomic particle located inside the nucleus with positive charge
C. Subatomic particle with neutral charge inside the nucleus
D. Particle that orbits the nucleus
Answer: B
Rationale: Protons reside in the atomic nucleus and carry a positive electrical
charge.
3. Why are protons important?
A. They determine atomic mass
B. To identify our elements by their atomic numbers
C. They determine chemical bonding
D. They balance electron charges
,Answer: B
Rationale: The atomic number equals the number of protons, which uniquely
identifies each element.
4. What is a neutron?
A. Subatomic particle with positive charge
B. Subatomic particle located inside the nucleus with neutral charge
C. Subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus
D. Particle with negative charge
Answer: B
Rationale: Neutrons are neutral particles found in the nucleus alongside protons.
5. Why are neutrons important?
A. They identify the element
B. With neutrons we can get atomic mass
C. They determine chemical reactivity
D. They balance positive charges
Answer: B
Rationale: Atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons (mass number).
6. What is atomic mass?
A. Number of protons only
B. Number of electrons only
C. Number of protons plus neutrons
D. Number of neutrons only
Answer: C
Rationale: Atomic mass (mass number) = protons + neutrons. Electrons contribute
negligible mass.
7. What are electrons?
, A. Subatomic particles that orbit surrounding the nucleus with negative
charge
B. Subatomic particles inside the nucleus with positive charge
C. Neutral particles in the nucleus
D. Particles that form isotopes
Answer: A
Rationale: Electrons are negatively charged and occupy orbitals or shells around
the nucleus.
8. Why are electrons important?
A. They determine atomic number
B. They determine atomic mass
C. Based upon the arrangement of electrons we can determine how and why
one element will interact with another
D. They are the heaviest particles
Answer: C
Rationale: Electron configuration governs chemical bonding and reactivity.
9. What happens if you gain an electron?
A. You become more negative
B. You become more positive
C. You become neutral
D. You become an isotope
Answer: A
Rationale: Gaining an electron increases negative charge, forming an anion.
10. What happens if you lose an electron?
A. You become more negative
B. You become more positive
C. You become neutral
D. You become a molecule
APPROVED SOLUTIONS 2026/2027
STUDY SET
1. What are the three subatomic particles?
A. Protons, neutrons, positrons
B. Protons, neutrons, electrons
C. Electrons, neutrons, quarks
D. Protons, electrons, ions
Answer: B
Rationale: The three fundamental subatomic particles are protons (positive),
neutrons (neutral), and electrons (negative).
2. What is a proton?
A. Subatomic particle with negative charge outside the nucleus
B. Subatomic particle located inside the nucleus with positive charge
C. Subatomic particle with neutral charge inside the nucleus
D. Particle that orbits the nucleus
Answer: B
Rationale: Protons reside in the atomic nucleus and carry a positive electrical
charge.
3. Why are protons important?
A. They determine atomic mass
B. To identify our elements by their atomic numbers
C. They determine chemical bonding
D. They balance electron charges
,Answer: B
Rationale: The atomic number equals the number of protons, which uniquely
identifies each element.
4. What is a neutron?
A. Subatomic particle with positive charge
B. Subatomic particle located inside the nucleus with neutral charge
C. Subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus
D. Particle with negative charge
Answer: B
Rationale: Neutrons are neutral particles found in the nucleus alongside protons.
5. Why are neutrons important?
A. They identify the element
B. With neutrons we can get atomic mass
C. They determine chemical reactivity
D. They balance positive charges
Answer: B
Rationale: Atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons (mass number).
6. What is atomic mass?
A. Number of protons only
B. Number of electrons only
C. Number of protons plus neutrons
D. Number of neutrons only
Answer: C
Rationale: Atomic mass (mass number) = protons + neutrons. Electrons contribute
negligible mass.
7. What are electrons?
, A. Subatomic particles that orbit surrounding the nucleus with negative
charge
B. Subatomic particles inside the nucleus with positive charge
C. Neutral particles in the nucleus
D. Particles that form isotopes
Answer: A
Rationale: Electrons are negatively charged and occupy orbitals or shells around
the nucleus.
8. Why are electrons important?
A. They determine atomic number
B. They determine atomic mass
C. Based upon the arrangement of electrons we can determine how and why
one element will interact with another
D. They are the heaviest particles
Answer: C
Rationale: Electron configuration governs chemical bonding and reactivity.
9. What happens if you gain an electron?
A. You become more negative
B. You become more positive
C. You become neutral
D. You become an isotope
Answer: A
Rationale: Gaining an electron increases negative charge, forming an anion.
10. What happens if you lose an electron?
A. You become more negative
B. You become more positive
C. You become neutral
D. You become a molecule
