MCAT Question of the Day

Correct Answer: B. the equilibrium mixture has more reactants than products

The chemical equilibrium constant is calculated by dividing the concentration of the products by the concentration of the reactants at equilibrium. The magnitude of the chemical equilibrium constant can shed light on the composition of the mixture at equilibrium. Since the equilibrium constant given in the question is small, the equilibrium mixture would contain more reactants than products. If the equilibrium constant were larger than 1, this would indicate that the equilibrium mixture was made up of more products than reactants. Note: the chemical equilibrium constant is not an indicator of the rate of the reaction, only the concentrations of the equilibrium mixture.

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Correct Answer: C. Diastereomers

When drawing out the structures, one can see that the basic skeletal arrangements are identical, i.e. stereoisomers (not constitutional isomers). We can dismiss conformers, since the structures cannot be interconverted exclusively by rotations about formally single bonds. The compounds are diastereomers, a class of stereoisomers that are non-superimposable, nonmirror images of one another. More specifically, the compounds are epimers: in chemistry, epimers are diastereomers that differ in configuration of only one stereogenic center.

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Correct Answer: D. Asymmetric induction

Racemization refers to the conversion of an optically active substance to a racemic form (has equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule). Enantioenrichment refers to the act of enriching an already existing mixture of stereoisomers such that it contains more than 50% of one enantiomer. Chiral chromatography involves the separation of stereoisomers using a chiral stationary phase, which does not involve chemical transformations. “Optical reduction” as a technique or phrase does not exist.

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Correct Answer: C. convex.

The meniscus is the curved upper surface of liquid. This is formed because of unequal cohesion and adhesion attractions. For example, in water the adhesive forces are greater than the cohesive forces, therefore the water is able to “walk up the sides” of the surface. In the case of water, a U-shaped or concave meniscus is formed. Mercury, for example has stronger cohesive attractions between the mercury molecules than adhesive attractions between the mercury and the glass surface, therefore producing a convex meniscus, which looks like an inverted U.

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Correct Answer: C. 2H2O2 -> 2H2O + O2

The second law of thermodynamics states that nature tends to favor a state of disorder or entropy. In other words, chemical reactions that are exergonic (release energy) and result in more products than reactants are favored. The only answer option that has more products formed in comparison to the reactants is answer option C.

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Correct Answer: A. CH4, NH3, H2, H2O

In the primitive atmosphere, no O2 was present as most organisms used chemosynthesis to create organic compounds. The Oparin and Haldane hypothesis states that methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), and water (H2O) were the only gases present. It was after the Miller and Urey experiment that it was proven that these gases and lightning could have given rise to simple organic compounds that then later evolved into more complex forms of life.

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Correct Answer: C. a = sin 30^o x 9.8 m/s² = 4.9 m/s²

Gravity is calculated from the vertical component of the force on the mass: sin theta = opposite/hypotenuse.

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Correct Answer: C. the activation energy is lowered

A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. The catalyst is never consumed, nor does it alter the reactants or products. The total enthalpy of the reaction is also not changed from what it would have been without the catalyst. Only the rate at which the reaction occurs and the activation energy is affected. The only answer option that is correct is [C].

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Correct Answer: B. XeF2

Start by drawing the Lewis structure of CO2. We find that the molecular shape is linear. Here is a video to help visualize this process: CO2 Structure

Next, find which of the answer choices is also linear by drawing all of the remaining structures. We find that only XeF2 has the same linear molecular shape, even though it has a different hybridization!
Structure of H2O
Structure of XeF2
Structure of SO2
Structure of SCl2

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Correct Answer: A. the ventricles, spinal canal, and meninges.

The organs of the central nervous system (CNS), the brain and spinal cord, have hollow regions (ventricles and spinal canal, respectively). The CNS also contains the meninges, which consists of three layers of protective covering. The question states that CSF circulates in these areas. Thus A is the correct answer. The spinal nerves and cranial nerves are not part of the CNS, they are part of the peripheral nervous system (with the exception of cranial nerve II, but that’s a little advanced for the MCAT).

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