Module 8

Main Progression - Water, Solutions, Acids & Bases, and Organic Acids and Bases

Review & Preview - It is time to take a tour of Biology as a whole.

Knowledge Mapping - Integrate fundamental physics and chemistry electrodynamic and thermodynamic principles with solution and acid/base concepts. Preview these concepts within various contexts from biology.

Testing - Take a comprehensive diagnostic test on Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics at the Testing Center. Also, begin studying for your first practice test.

Essay & Verbal Reasoning - Learn to recognize the different types of verbal reasoning questions. Write another essay.

Main Progression

Videos

Assignments

Browse the Solutions Images and read the Glossary to get a feel for the field of reference for the topic and the basic vocabulary. Reinforce preparation with the Fundamental Terms Crossword Puzzle. Click here for the Solution. Read pp 65-89 in Examkrackers Chemistry and perform the problems on p. 69,74,78 and pp. 90-91 as you go. Take your time with this material. Perform the WikiPremed Solutions Practice Items Here is the Answer Key. Finish your Main Progression work on Solutions with a review tour of the Solutions external resources in the Learning Center.

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Goals

	Be able to clearly distinguish a solution from other types of mixtures such as colloids.
	Comprehend solutions involving various phases of matter. Be able to name a few solid, liquid, and gaseous solutions.
	Understand how to work with various concentration expressions including mole fraction, molality, molarity and normality.
	Understand the basis of solubility in chemical thermodynamics. Be capable of predicting the solubility in water of an organic compound from its structural formula.
	Understand why some electrolytes are less soluble than others. Remember the solubility rules for electrolytes.
	Have a clear sense of the structure at the particle level of an aqueous solution of electrolytes.
	Gain facility in employing the solubility product to solve problems such as the final concentration of a solution of weak electrolyte.
	Be able to describe the common ion effect and become familiar with typical common ion effect problems.
	Understand heterogeneous solution equilibria when it is coupled with acid-base equilibria.
	Be prepared to solve problems involving colligative properties including boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, vapor pressure lowering, and osmotic pressure.
	Understand the definition of a colloidal suspension. Be able to conceptualize the structure at the particle level of micellar suspensions involving soaps and detergents.
	Familiarize yourself with the chemical separation technique known as solvent extraction.

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Videos

Assignments

Browse the Acids & Bases Images and read the Acids & Bases Glossary to get a feel for the topic and its basic vocabulary. Here is the Fundamental Terms Crossword Puzzle for Acids & Bases and the Solution. Read pp. 92-97, 99-101, and 103-106 in Examkrackers Chemistry performing the problems on p. 98, p. 102, and pp 107-108. Perform the Acids & Bases Practice Items Here is the Answer Key. Close the circle with a review tour of the Acids & Bases resources in the Learning Center. The online teaching by Chem1.com and Purdue University are especially good in this area.

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Goals

	Clearly distinguish the systems for defining acids and bases including Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis.
	Understand the meaning of conjugate acids and bases in the Brønsted-Lowry system.
	Be able to place the Brønsted-Lowry system in the aqueous context in which the equilibrium of a conjugate acid and base is coupled with the autoprotolysis of water.
	Become fluent in working with pH to describe the position of acid-base equilibrium in an aqueous solution.
	Understand how to employ the the acid constant ka to determine the strength of an acid or its conjugate base, and become fluent in the basic techniques for solving acid-base equilibrium problems.
	Develop a concrete, intuitive understanding of how a buffered solution works to modulate pH.
	Know how to work with the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation backwards and forwards.
	Be able to explain the behavior of an indicator.
	Be able to interpret the titration curve of a weak acid with a strong base and the titration curve of a weak base with a strong acid. Be able to pick out the half-equivalence point and the equivalence point.
	Extend your understanding to other titration curves, such as the titration of a polyprotic acid or an amino acid.

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Assignments

Browse the Organic Acids & Bases Images and read the Glossary to get a feel for the topic and its basic vocabulary. Peform the basic vocabulary Crossword Puzzle for waves to solidify your mastery of the basic conceptual vocabulary before proceeding. Here is the Solution. Read subsections concerning the acidity and basicity of various functional groups on pp. 47, 52, 64, and 69 in Examkrackers Organic Chemistry. Take a review tour of the Organic Acids & Bases resources in the Learning Center.

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Goals

	Be able to name the organic acids and compare their relative acidities.
	Understand the basicity of amines.
	Place acidity and basicity in the context of organic reaction chemistry. Become familiar with the reactions in which it is an important factor.
	Be prepared to predict the effect on acidity or basicity of an electron withdrawing or electron donating substituent placed near to an acidic or basic organic functional group.

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Review & Preview

Assignments

Carefully browse the conceptual discussions for Biology in Examkrackers from beginning to end. Read the headings. Browse the text. Look at the figures. Set your pace to take no more than 3 hours. You can use a similar work from another publisher for this assignment if you like. Play the Biology section of ManDala at Level 2 without rolling movement dice, although you still roll difficulty dice. Go one topic at a time and do not proceed to the next topic until you have answered three questions in a row. Skip Photosynthesis, Animals, and Plants if you like. Use your question book and slider for this exercise instead of the online question server to be able to browse each chapter's figures as you go. One of the big challenges in MCAT preparation is the information volume in the biological sciences. You need to come to an understanding of the challenge this week, what mastering the fundamental factual knowledge for the test is going to entail.

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Goals

	Gain a good sense of the outlines of Biology at the main topic level.
	Be able to clearly picture the phenomena described within each main topic of Biology and describe at least one or two main concepts from each topic.

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Knowledge Mapping

 

Testing

 

Verbal Reasoning

 

Essay

MECHANICS AND WAVES		Course Modules
	Kinematics Newton's Laws Work, Energy, and Power Momentum and Impulse
* * *	Rotation Harmonic Motion Elastic Properties of Solids Fluid Mechanics Waves
FUNDAMENTAL FORCES
	Gravitation Electricity
THE STRUCTURE OF MATTER
	Atomic Theory Periodic Properties The Chemical Bond Intermolecular Forces
	Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry Stereochemistry
THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS
	Temperature and Heat Flow The Ideal Gas and Kinetic Theory The First Law of Thermodynamics Stoichiometry Thermochemistry
	The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines Chemical Thermodynamics and the Equilibrium State The States of Matter The Physical Properties of Organic Compounds Chemical Kinetics
SOLUTIONS AND AQUEOUS SYSTEMS
	Water Solutions Acids and Bases Organic Acids and Bases
ORGANIC REACTION CHEMISTRY
	Nucleophiles and Electrophiles Intramolecular Cationic Rearrangements Reactions with Radical Intermediates Conjugated π Systems and Aromaticity Reactions of Alkanes Reactions of Alkenes Reactions of Alkynes Reactions of Alkyl Halides Reactions of Allylic and Benzylic Conjugation Reactions of Aromatic Compounds Reactions of Alcohols and Ethers Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones Reactions of Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives Reactions of Amines Reactions of Organic Phosphorus Compounds Reactions of Organic Sulfur Compounds
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BIOMOLECULES
	Proteins Carbohydrates Nucleic Acids Lipids
THE CELL
	Biological Membranes The Prokaryotic Cell The Eukaryotic Cell
BIOENERGETICS AND BIOSYNTHESIS
	Coordination Chemistry Oxidation/Reduction Oxidation/Reduction in Organic Chemistry Electrochemistry Bioenergetics and Cellular Respiration Photosynthesis  optional for MCAT Integration of Metabolism
GENETICS & REPRODUCTION
	Gene Expression Cellular Reproduction Mendelian Genetics Recombination and Mutation The Molecular Biology Laboratory Human Genetics
DIVERSITY OF LIFE
	Viruses Monera Protista  taxonomy optional for MCAT Fungi Plants  optional for MCAT Animals  taxonomy optional for MCAT Animal Development and Embryology
	Mammalian Tissues and Histology
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
	The Nervous System Sensory Systems The Endocrine System The Musculoskeletal System The Cardiovascular System Blood The Respiratory System The Lymphatic System and Immunity The Urinary System The Digestive System and Nutrition The Reproductive System
POPULATION BIOLOGY
	Evolution Ecology
ELECTROMAGNETISM, LIGHT, AND MODERN PHYSICS
	Electricity DC Current Magnetism Electomagnetic Induction AC Current
	The Properties of Light Geometric Optics Wave Optics
	Modern Physics  relativity optional for MCAT Molecular Spectroscopy
	Molecular Spectroscopy Nuclear Physics
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