MLM #1 Chemistry for Biology Mastery Activity Worksheet

● Try to complete this worksheet without looking at the answer key right away
● Please ask your TAs/peer tutors for feedback

Learning Objective: Identify how the highly electronegative atoms (for example O and N)
lead to uneven electron sharing and permanent dipoles when bonded to other
biologically relevant atoms

Let’s first refresh your memory on electronegativity!

Fill in your answers in the empty boxes beside the questions:

What is the definition of

electronegativity in your
own words?

What makes atoms O

and N more
electronegative than
others?

How are permanent

dipoles formed?

The image below depicts uneven electron sharing. What likely location would you find the
electrons shared between the atoms?

Left atom Shared equally Right atom

Which of the following bonds could be presented in this picture (choose all that apply)?
A. O-H
B. N-H
C. C-H
D. S-H
E. C-C
F. O-C
G. N-C

Name the type of bond interaction that would occur between two molecules with polar covalent
bonds (hint: see Bonds in Biology):

Learning Objective: Identify whether a molecule or group on a molecule is

polar/nonpolar, neutral/charged, hydrophobic/hydrophilic/amphipathic

Define in your own words and provide an example for the following terms:
Term Definition Example

Polar

Nonpolar

Neutral

Charged

Hydrophobic

Hydrophilic

Amphipathic

The molecular group circled is considered (choose all that apply):

 A. Hydrophobic
B. Hydrophilic
C. Polar
D. Nonpolar
E. Amphipathic
F. Charged
G. Ionic

A molecule that contains molecular groups with only nonpolar bonds is overall considered
(choose all that apply):

A. Hydrophobic
B. Hydrophilic
C. Nonpolar
D. Amphipathic
E. Charged
F. Ionic

The molecular group circled have bonds that can be considered (choose all that apply):

A. Hydrophobic
B. Hydrophilic
C. Polar
D. Nonpolar
E. Amphipathic
F. Charged
G. Ionic

The molecule above also contains nonpolar covalent bonds (C-H bonds). Why wouldn’t this
molecule be considered hydrophobic overall?
Learning Objective: Predict the types of noncovalent interactions that can form between
functional groups within a molecule or between molecules

List and provide an example of the different types of noncovalent interactions from strongest to
weakest (hint: which two interactions are similar in strength?):
Bond/Interaction Type Example

What type of bond interaction is indicated by the dashed lines in the image below? How do you
know (i.e. how would you explain to a peer how you knew what bond interaction it was)?

What is the strongest type of non-covalent interaction that these two molecules (as shown
below) can share?
A. Hydrogen bonding (H-bond)
B. Induced dipole – induced dipole
(ID-ID)
C. Ionic
D. Ion - induced dipole (Ion-ID)
E. Ion – permanent dipole (Ion-PD)
F. Permanent dipole – induced
dipole (PD-ID)
G. Permanent dipole – permanent
dipole (PD-PD)

Most of (the largest number of) the non-covalent interactions that these molecules (above)
can share will be…
A. Hydrogen bonding (H-bond)
B. Induced dipole – induced dipole (ID-ID)
C. Ionic
D. Ion - induced dipole (Ion-ID)
 E. Ion – permanent dipole (Ion-PD)
F. Permanent dipole – induced dipole (PD-ID)
G. Permanent dipole – permanent dipole (PD-PD)

What types of noncovalent interactions are possible for an atom that is part of a polar covalent
bond versus a nonpolar covalent bond? Place a checkmark in the appropriate boxes.

Noncovalent Interaction Polar Covalent Bond Nonpolar Covalent Bond

Hydrogen bonding

Induced dipole - induced dipole

Ionic

Ion - induced dipole

Ion - permanent dipole

Permanent dipole - induced

dipole

Permanent dipole - permanent

dipole

When an atom or functional group is ionized (e.g. an NH3+ group or a COO- group), what is the
strongest type of noncovalent interaction(s) possible for it to be part of, with another
atom/group? (Choose all that apply)
A. Hydrogen bonding (H-bond)
B. Induced dipole – induced dipole (ID-ID)
C. Ionic
D. Ion - induced dipole (Ion-ID)
E. Ion – permanent dipole (Ion-PD)
F. Permanent dipole – induced dipole (PD-ID)
G. Permanent dipole – permanent dipole (PD-PD)

What is the strongest noncovalent interaction that it is possible for this molecule to be part of,
with another molecule? (Choose all that apply)
A. Hydrogen bonding (H-bond)
B. Induced dipole – induced dipole (ID-ID)
C. Ionic
D. Ion - induced dipole (Ion-ID)
E. Ion – permanent dipole (Ion-PD)
F. Permanent dipole – induced dipole (PD-ID)
G. Permanent dipole – permanent dipole (PD-PD)