MCAT Chemistry and Physics
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Table of Contents
Content Breakdown
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Distribution of Questions by:
- Discipline,
- Foundational Concept,
- Scientific Inquiry,
- and Reasoning Skill.
| Discipline | Percentage |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | 30% |
| First-semester, Biochemistry | 25% |
| Introductory Physics | 25% |
| Organic Chemistry | 15% |
| Introductory Biology | 5% |
| Total coverage includes 5 core sciences relevant to the MCAT. | |
Foundational Concepts and Content Categories
- Foundational Concept 4, 40%
- Foundational Concept 5, 60%
Foundational Concept 4
Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes understood in terms of physical principles.
Foundational Concept 5
The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems.
| Section | Topic Description |
|---|---|
| Source: AAMC MCAT Content Outline | |
| 4A | Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and equilibrium in living systems |
| 4B | Importance of fluids for the circulation of blood, gas movement, and gas exchange |
| 4C | Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements |
| 4D | How light and sound interact with matter |
| 4E | Atoms, nuclear decay, electron structure, and atomic chemical behavior |
| 5A | Unique nature of water and its solutions |
| 5B | Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions |
| 5C | Separation and purification methods |
| 5D | Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant molecules |
| 5E | Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics |
Exam Timing and Question Breakdown
MCAT's Chemistry and Physics section is the first section (of four).
| Number of Questions | 59 |
| Total Time | 95 minutes |
| Recommended Time per Question | 1.6 minutes (1 minute 36 seconds) |
Time management is key for success on this section of the MCAT. | |