Nursing Elites

1. Which organ in the body is responsible for maintaining electrolyte balance and filtering waste from the blood?

• A. Liver
• B. Kidneys
• C. Heart
• D. Lungs

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from the blood and maintaining electrolyte balance. They help regulate the body's fluid levels and produce urine as a means of waste elimination. The liver primarily plays a role in detoxification and metabolism, not in maintaining electrolyte balance or filtering waste from the blood. The heart is responsible for pumping blood, not for electrolyte balance or waste filtration. The lungs are primarily involved in gas exchange, not in maintaining electrolyte balance or filtering waste from the blood.

2. When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes a(n):

• A. Molecule
• B. Isotope
• C. Ion
• D. Compound

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. Gaining or losing electrons alters the atom's electron count and charge, creating a positively or negatively charged ion. A molecule is formed when two or more atoms are chemically bonded. An isotope is a variation of an element with a different number of neutrons. A compound consists of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.

3. What is the process of converting ammonia, a byproduct of protein digestion, into a less toxic form?

• A. Deamination
• B. Transamination
• C. Decarboxylation
• D. Hydrolysis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Deamination is the correct answer. It is the process of removing an amino group from a molecule, like converting ammonia (NH3) into a less toxic form such as urea. Ammonia, a byproduct of protein digestion, must be converted into a less toxic form for excretion. Deamination is a crucial step that mainly occurs in the liver through the urea cycle. Transamination involves transferring an amino group from one molecule to another, not removing it as in deamination. Decarboxylation is the removal of a carboxyl group from a molecule, and hydrolysis is the breakdown of a compound by adding water.

4. What is the basic unit of communication in the nervous system?

• A. Neuron
• B. Astrocyte
• C. Neurotransmitter
• D. Synapse

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A neuron is the basic unit of communication in the nervous system. Neurons are specialized cells responsible for transmitting information through electrical and chemical signals. Astrocytes are a type of glial cell that provide support and nourishment to neurons but do not participate in signal transmission. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate signal transmission between neurons, and synapses are the specific junctions where these signals are transmitted. Therefore, the correct answer is 'A: Neuron' as it is the primary cell involved in transmitting information in the nervous system.

5. Which of the following substances is an example of an acidic gas?

• A. Nitrogen (N₂)
• B. Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• C. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• D. Oxygen (O₂)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Sulfur dioxide is an acidic gas because when dissolved in water, it forms sulfurous acid, which imparts acidic properties. Nitrogen (N₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and oxygen (O₂) are not considered acidic gases. Nitrogen is a neutral gas, carbon dioxide forms a weakly acidic solution when dissolved in water, and oxygen is a neutral gas.

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