Official Exam Answers
STANDARD FORM SEQUENCE Key: (2), (3), (3), (1)
Organic must contain both C & H.
Elements in all organic cmpds → (3) carbon and hydrogen
Atoms during chemical reaction → (3) remains the same
Glucose + Glucose reaction → (1) dehydration synthesis
FORM ALT SEQUENCE Key: (1), (2), (2), (3)
Option position moved from (3) to (1).
Glucose + Glucose rxn [was #10] → (2) dehydration synthesis
Inorganic compound [was #7] → (2) carbon dioxide (CO2)
Elements in organic [was #8] → (3) carbon and hydrogen
Table: 4 pts • Conclusion: 2 pts
Equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
| Element | Reactants (Inputs) Work & Count | Products (Outputs) Work & Count |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 6 × 1 = 6 (Given model) | 1 × 6 = 6 (Given model) |
| Hydrogen (H) [2 pts] | 6 × 2 = 12 | 1 × 12 = 12 |
| Oxygen (O) [2 pts] | (6 × 2) + (6 × 1) = 12 + 6 = 18 | (1 × 6) + (6 × 2) = 6 + 12 = 18 |
#11 Conservation Conclusion [2 pts]: Award 1 pt for stating that the total number of reactant atoms equals the total number of product atoms (36 total atoms / equal per element: 6 C, 12 H, 18 O). Award 1 pt for explicitly stating that no atoms were destroyed or created; atoms were only rearranged to form new molecules.
Chemistry of Life Dual Answer Key • NYS Regents Life Science Page 1 of 2 • Turn Over for Part IV Scoring Rubrics & NYS Exemplars →
Verbatim NYS Living Environment Rubrics & Student Exemplars (10 Points Total)
GRADING REFERENCE
Chemical Potential Energy in Living Organisms Std: #14 ALT: #12
4 Points • Jan 2016, Q44
Prompt: State what happens to the chemical potential energy stored in the bonds of food molecules (like glucose) when those bonds are broken during cellular digestion or respiration.
[2 pts] Energy Release: Student states that the stored potential energy is released when chemical bonds are broken.
[2 pts] Energy Conversion / Transfer: Student identifies that this energy is transferred to ATP / usable cellular energy or released as heat/thermal energy.
Acceptable Student Exemplars: “The chemical bond energy is released and used to synthesize ATP for cellular work.” or “The stored potential energy is released as heat and kinetic energy for cellular processes.”
Do not award full credit if student claims energy is “destroyed” or “disappears.”
Organic Molecule Classification Elements Std: #12 ALT: #13
2 Points • Jan 2014, Q56
Prompt: Identify the two chemical elements that must be present in a compound for it to be classified as organic.
Element 1 [1 pt]: Carbon (accept symbol “C”)
Element 2 [1 pt]: Hydrogen (accept symbol “H”)
Note: Both elements must be present together. Oxygen (O) or Nitrogen (N) alone do not qualify a molecule as organic without both C and H present.
Dehydration Synthesis vs. Hydrolysis Analysis Std: #13 ALT: #14
4 Points • June 2017, Q36-37
Maltose + H2O → Glucose + Glucose
Part a [2 pts]: Reaction Type: Hydrolysis (also accept: hydrolytic cleavage, enzymatic digestion, or chemical breakdown of disaccharide).
Part b [2 pts]: Water & Chemical Bond Role:
Sample Full-Credit Response: “Water is split and added to break the chemical bond linking the glucose units, separating them into two free simple sugars.”
Anti-Cheating Rapid Audit Diagnostic:
If a student handed the ALT Form writes down standard key answers (e.g. Vocabulary: C, E, A... instead of B, C, A...; or Multiple Choice Q7 writes (2) CO2 instead of (1) remains the same), this indicates direct copying from an adjacent neighbor taking the Standard Form.
NYS Regents Life Science Chemistry Assessment Master Page 2 of 2 • Official Answer Key
