MCAT REVIEW SHEETS
Revised 2019
Please send questions or comments to:
, Contents
General Chemistry Biology
1 Atomic Structure 1 1 The Cell 25
2 The Periodic Table 2 2 Reproduction 26
3 Bonding and Chemical Interactions 3 3 Embryogenesis and Development 27
4 Compounds and Stoichiometry 4 4 Nervous System 28
5 Chemical Kinetics 5 5 Endocrine System 29
6 Equilibrium 6 6 Respiratory System 30
7 Thermochemistry 7 7 Cardiovascular System 31
8 The Gas Phase 8 8 Immune system 32
9 Solutions 9 9 Digestive System 33
10 Acids and Bases 10 10 Kidney and Skin 34
11 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions 11 11 Muscular System 35
12 Electrochemistry 12 12 Genetics and Evolution 36
Organic Chemistry Biochemistry
1 Nomenclature 13 1 Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins 37
2 Isomers 14 2 Enzymes 38
3 Bonding 15 3 Nonenzymatic Protein Function & Protein Analysis 39
4 Analyzing Organic Reactions 16 4 Carbohydrate Structure and Function 40
5 Alcohols 17 5 Lipid Structure and Function 41
6 Aldehydes and Ketones I 18 6 DNA and Biotechnology 42
7 Aldehydes and Ketones II 19 7 RNA and the Genetic Code 43
8 Carboxylic Acids 20 8 Biological Membranes 44
9 Carboxylic Acid Derivatives 21 9 Carbohydrate Metabolism I 45
10 N- and P-Containing Compounds 22 10 Carbohydrate Metabolism II 46
11 Spectroscopy 23 11 Lipid and Amino Acid Metabolism 47
12 Separations and Purifications 24 12 Bioenergetics and Regulation of Metabolism 48
i
,Behavioral Sciences Appendix
1 Biology and Behavior 49 A Organic Chemistry Common Names 73
2 Sensation and Perception 50 B The Heart and Oxygen Transport 74
3 Learning and Memory 51 C Brain 75
4 Cognition, Consciousness, and Language 52 D Endocrine Organs and Hormones 76
5 Motivation, Emotion, and Stress 53 E Lab Techniques 77
6 Identity and Personality 54 F DNA and RNA 78
7 Psychological Disorders 55 G DNA Replication 79
8 Social Processes, Attitudes, and Behavior 56 H The Central Dogma 80
9 Social Interaction 57 I Amino Acids 81
10 Social Thinking 58 J Enzyme Inhibition 82
11 Social Structure and Demographics 59 K Metabolism Overview 83
12 Social Stratification 60 L Glycolysis 84
M Gluconeogenesis 85
N Citric Acid Cycle 86
Physics and Math O Oxidative Phosphorylation 87
1 Kinematics and Dynamics 61 P More Metabolic Pathways 88
2 Work and Energy 62 Q Essential Equations 89
3 Thermodynamics 63
4 Fluids 64
5 Electrostatics and Magnetism 65
6 Circuits 66
7 Waves and Sound 67
8 Light and Optics 68
9 Atomic and Nuclear Phenomena 69
10 Mathematics 70
11 Design and Execution of Research 71
12 Data-Based and Statistical Reasoning 72
ii
, General Chemistry 1: Atomic Structure
A
Z X A = Mass number = protons + neutrons
Z = Atomic number = # of protons
Note: Atomic Weight = weighted average
Scientist Contributions
Rutherford Model: 1911. Electrons surround a nucleus.
Bohr Model: 1913. Described orbits in more detail.
Farther orbits = Energy AHED Mnemonic
Absorb light
Photon emitted when n¯, absorbed when n
Higher potential
Heisenberg Uncertainty: It is impossible to know the momentum and Excited
position simultaneously. Distant from nucleus
Hund’s Rule: e- only double up in orbitals if all orbitals first
have 1 e-.
Pauli Exclusion Principle: Paired e- must be + " , − ". Diamagnetic vs. Paramagnetic
# #
Diamagnetic: All electrons are paired
¯ REPELLED by an external magnetic field
Constants Light Energy Paramagnetic: 1 or more unpaired electrons
() PULLED into an external magnetic field
Avogadro’s Number: 6.022 × 10#F = 1 mol 𝐸=
l
𝐸 =h𝑓
Follow Hund’s rule to build the atom’s electron configuration. If 1 or more
Planck’s (h): 6.626 × 10 HFI
J•s 𝑓 = frequency orbitals have just a single electron, the atom is paramagnetic. If there are
h = Planck 8 s constant no unpaired electrons, then the atom is diamagnetic.
Speed of Light (c) 3.0 × 10K m
c = speed of light
s Examples:
He = 1s2 = diamagnetic and will repel magnetic fields.
C = 1s22s22p2 = paramagnetic and will be attracted to magnetic fields.
Quantum Numbers
Quantum Possible
Name What it Labels Notes
Number Values
Atomic Orbitals on the Periodic Table
n Principal e- energy level or
shell number
1, 2, 3, … Except for d- and f-orbitals,
the shell # matches the row of
the periodic table.
l Azimuthal 3D shape of orbital 0, 1, 2, …, n-1 0 = s orbital
1 = p orbital
2 = d orbital
3 = f orbital
4 = g orbital
ml Magnetic Orbital sub-type Integers
–l ® +l
" "
ms Spin Electron spin
+# , −#
Maximum e- in terms of n = 2n2
Maximum e- in subshell = 4l + 2
Free Radical: An atom or molecule with an unpaired electron.
The Aufbau Principle
3D shapes of s, p, d, and f orbitals
1
Revised 2019
Please send questions or comments to:
, Contents
General Chemistry Biology
1 Atomic Structure 1 1 The Cell 25
2 The Periodic Table 2 2 Reproduction 26
3 Bonding and Chemical Interactions 3 3 Embryogenesis and Development 27
4 Compounds and Stoichiometry 4 4 Nervous System 28
5 Chemical Kinetics 5 5 Endocrine System 29
6 Equilibrium 6 6 Respiratory System 30
7 Thermochemistry 7 7 Cardiovascular System 31
8 The Gas Phase 8 8 Immune system 32
9 Solutions 9 9 Digestive System 33
10 Acids and Bases 10 10 Kidney and Skin 34
11 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions 11 11 Muscular System 35
12 Electrochemistry 12 12 Genetics and Evolution 36
Organic Chemistry Biochemistry
1 Nomenclature 13 1 Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins 37
2 Isomers 14 2 Enzymes 38
3 Bonding 15 3 Nonenzymatic Protein Function & Protein Analysis 39
4 Analyzing Organic Reactions 16 4 Carbohydrate Structure and Function 40
5 Alcohols 17 5 Lipid Structure and Function 41
6 Aldehydes and Ketones I 18 6 DNA and Biotechnology 42
7 Aldehydes and Ketones II 19 7 RNA and the Genetic Code 43
8 Carboxylic Acids 20 8 Biological Membranes 44
9 Carboxylic Acid Derivatives 21 9 Carbohydrate Metabolism I 45
10 N- and P-Containing Compounds 22 10 Carbohydrate Metabolism II 46
11 Spectroscopy 23 11 Lipid and Amino Acid Metabolism 47
12 Separations and Purifications 24 12 Bioenergetics and Regulation of Metabolism 48
i
,Behavioral Sciences Appendix
1 Biology and Behavior 49 A Organic Chemistry Common Names 73
2 Sensation and Perception 50 B The Heart and Oxygen Transport 74
3 Learning and Memory 51 C Brain 75
4 Cognition, Consciousness, and Language 52 D Endocrine Organs and Hormones 76
5 Motivation, Emotion, and Stress 53 E Lab Techniques 77
6 Identity and Personality 54 F DNA and RNA 78
7 Psychological Disorders 55 G DNA Replication 79
8 Social Processes, Attitudes, and Behavior 56 H The Central Dogma 80
9 Social Interaction 57 I Amino Acids 81
10 Social Thinking 58 J Enzyme Inhibition 82
11 Social Structure and Demographics 59 K Metabolism Overview 83
12 Social Stratification 60 L Glycolysis 84
M Gluconeogenesis 85
N Citric Acid Cycle 86
Physics and Math O Oxidative Phosphorylation 87
1 Kinematics and Dynamics 61 P More Metabolic Pathways 88
2 Work and Energy 62 Q Essential Equations 89
3 Thermodynamics 63
4 Fluids 64
5 Electrostatics and Magnetism 65
6 Circuits 66
7 Waves and Sound 67
8 Light and Optics 68
9 Atomic and Nuclear Phenomena 69
10 Mathematics 70
11 Design and Execution of Research 71
12 Data-Based and Statistical Reasoning 72
ii
, General Chemistry 1: Atomic Structure
A
Z X A = Mass number = protons + neutrons
Z = Atomic number = # of protons
Note: Atomic Weight = weighted average
Scientist Contributions
Rutherford Model: 1911. Electrons surround a nucleus.
Bohr Model: 1913. Described orbits in more detail.
Farther orbits = Energy AHED Mnemonic
Absorb light
Photon emitted when n¯, absorbed when n
Higher potential
Heisenberg Uncertainty: It is impossible to know the momentum and Excited
position simultaneously. Distant from nucleus
Hund’s Rule: e- only double up in orbitals if all orbitals first
have 1 e-.
Pauli Exclusion Principle: Paired e- must be + " , − ". Diamagnetic vs. Paramagnetic
# #
Diamagnetic: All electrons are paired
¯ REPELLED by an external magnetic field
Constants Light Energy Paramagnetic: 1 or more unpaired electrons
() PULLED into an external magnetic field
Avogadro’s Number: 6.022 × 10#F = 1 mol 𝐸=
l
𝐸 =h𝑓
Follow Hund’s rule to build the atom’s electron configuration. If 1 or more
Planck’s (h): 6.626 × 10 HFI
J•s 𝑓 = frequency orbitals have just a single electron, the atom is paramagnetic. If there are
h = Planck 8 s constant no unpaired electrons, then the atom is diamagnetic.
Speed of Light (c) 3.0 × 10K m
c = speed of light
s Examples:
He = 1s2 = diamagnetic and will repel magnetic fields.
C = 1s22s22p2 = paramagnetic and will be attracted to magnetic fields.
Quantum Numbers
Quantum Possible
Name What it Labels Notes
Number Values
Atomic Orbitals on the Periodic Table
n Principal e- energy level or
shell number
1, 2, 3, … Except for d- and f-orbitals,
the shell # matches the row of
the periodic table.
l Azimuthal 3D shape of orbital 0, 1, 2, …, n-1 0 = s orbital
1 = p orbital
2 = d orbital
3 = f orbital
4 = g orbital
ml Magnetic Orbital sub-type Integers
–l ® +l
" "
ms Spin Electron spin
+# , −#
Maximum e- in terms of n = 2n2
Maximum e- in subshell = 4l + 2
Free Radical: An atom or molecule with an unpaired electron.
The Aufbau Principle
3D shapes of s, p, d, and f orbitals
1
