Here is a list of top eighteen interview questions on biochemistry which help you to succeed in an interview.
Q. 1. What is biochemistry?
Ans. Biochemistry is a science which deals with the over-all study of the chemical processes which occur in the living tissues at molecular level.
Q. 2. What are the branches of Biochemistry?
Ans. Broadly, it is divided into Plant Biochemistry and Animal Biochemistry, but because of recent researches many new branches have emerged out such as molecular biology, neurobiology, cytochemistry, enzymology, nutrition chemistry, etc.
Q. 3. What are the types of chromatography?
Ans. (i) Paper chromatography,
(ii) Column chromatography,
(iii) Thin layer chromatography,
(iv) Gas chromatography.
Q.4. What are monosaccharides? Give two examples.
Ans. These are the simplest carbohydrates having a single carbon chain, with a general molecular formula of C6H12O6, e.g., glucose, fructose.
Q. 5. Give one example each of di-, tri- and tetra-saccharides.
Ans. Disaccharide: Maltose.
Trisaccharide:Raffinose.
Tetra-saccharide:Stachyose.
Q. 6. What are polysaccharides?
Ans. A product formed by the condensation of large number of monosaccharide molecules is called a polysaccharide, e.g., starch, cellulose, insulin, etc.
Q. 7. How will you test starch from iodine?
Ans. Add a few drops of iodine in the solution. If the blue colour appears it confirms the presence of starch.
Q. 8. What constitute the group lipid?
Ans. Fats, oils, waxes and phospholipids form a large group called lipids.
Q. 9. What are the types of lipids?
Ans. Simple lipids, compound lipids and derived lipids are the three types of lipids.
Q. 10. What are proteins?
Ans. Proteins are highly complex organic compounds of very high molecular weight. These are optically active, colloidal and occur naturally. They consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, etc.
Q. 11. What is an amino acid?
Ans. A complex organic compound having at least one amino group (-NH2) and one carboxyl group (-COOH) is known as amino acid.
Q. 12. What are the structural and functional units of proteins?
Ans. Amino acids.
Q. 13. Name six amino acids.
Ans. Alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glycine, tryptophan and lysine.
Q. 14. Name six enzymes.
Ans. Protease, carbohydrase, oxidase, peptidase, lypase and amylase.
Q.15. What is xanthoproteic test?
Ans. It is a test for proteins. In this test, if 1 ml. of HNO3 (conc.) is added in 2-3 ml. of protein solution, a white precipitate is formed.
Q. 16. What is a biuret test?
Ans. In this test of proteins, equal amount of biuret reagent is added in 2-3 ml. of protein solution. After about 30 minutes violet colour is produced.
Q. 17. How will you test for lipids?
Ans. Take a few ml. of castor oil and add a few drops of Sudan III. A red colour is produced. It confirms the lipid.
Q. 18. What is the iodine number?
Ans. The iodine number is defined as the number of grams of iodine absorbed by 100 gm. of a fat.