Nursing Elites

1. Which compound is a component of baking soda and is important for maintaining pH balance in the body?

• A. Potassium
• B. Sodium
• C. Calcium
• D. Sodium bicarbonate

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is a compound that plays a crucial role in maintaining pH balance in the body. When ingested, sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer, helping to regulate the body's pH levels. It is essential for various physiological functions. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Potassium, calcium, and sodium are important minerals in the body but are not components of baking soda or directly responsible for maintaining pH balance in the same way as sodium bicarbonate.

2. Which of the following best describes one of the roles of RNA?

• A. Manufacturing the proteins needed from DNA
• B. Creating the bonds between the elements that make up DNA
• C. Sending messages about the correct sequence of proteins in DNA
• D. Forming the identifiable double helix shape of DNA

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. RNA serves as a messenger that carries instructions from DNA for protein synthesis. It does not manufacture proteins directly from DNA (choice A), create bonds within DNA (choice B), or form the double helix structure of DNA (choice D). Therefore, the primary role of RNA is to convey information about the correct sequence of proteins to be synthesized based on the DNA sequences it receives.

3. Iron is a transition metal, which means it often forms a cation with a charge of what?

• A. 2- or 3-
• B. 1-
• C. 2+ or 3+
• D. 1+

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 2+ or 3+. Transition metals, like iron, are known for their ability to exhibit variable oxidation states. This characteristic allows them to form cations with charges such as 2+ or 3+. Specifically, iron can form cations with these charges due to the varying electron configurations in its d-orbitals. The other choices are incorrect because transition metals typically form positively charged cations, not negatively charged ones. Additionally, while iron can form cations with charges of 2+ or 3+, it does not commonly form cations with charges of 1- or 1+. Transition metal cations play a crucial role in forming coordination complexes with ligands, highlighting their importance in various chemical reactions.

4. When light interacts with a perfectly smooth surface, like a mirror, the dominant interaction is:

• A. Refraction
• B. Diffraction
• C. Total internal reflection
• D. Specular reflection

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When light interacts with a perfectly smooth surface like a mirror, the dominant interaction is specular reflection. Specular reflection occurs when light rays are reflected off a smooth surface at the same angle as the incident angle, resulting in a clear and sharp reflection. Refraction, which involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, is not the dominant interaction with a perfectly smooth surface. Diffraction, the bending of light waves around obstacles, is not the dominant interaction with smooth surfaces. Total internal reflection occurs when light is reflected back into a medium due to encountering a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, but it is not the dominant interaction on a perfectly smooth surface like a mirror.

5. Endotoxins are toxic substances released by:

• A. Viruses
• B. Bacteria (gram-positive)
• C. Bacteria (gram-negative)
• D. Parasites

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Endotoxins are toxic substances that are part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. These toxins are released when the bacteria are destroyed or during bacterial growth. Endotoxins can cause a variety of harmful effects in the host, including fever, inflammation, and septic shock. Viruses do not produce endotoxins; they are typically associated with producing viral proteins that can be toxic to host cells. Gram-positive bacteria produce exotoxins, which are different from endotoxins found in gram-negative bacteria. Parasites, though capable of causing diseases, are not typically associated with the production of endotoxins.

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