Comprehensive MCAT Math, Physics & Bio/Biochem Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing critical MCAT math tools, SI units, physics concepts, acid–base chemistry, amino acids, glycolysis enzymes, cell division stages, and genetic ratios for efficient exam review.

Multiplication Table ‘Must-Know’

A set of common integer products (1–11×1–11) that MCAT students should memorize for fast, calculator-free math.

Scientific Notation

A way to express numbers as A × 10^n, where 1 ≤ A < 10 and n is an integer; simplifies very large or very small values.

Exponent Addition Rule

When multiplying powers with the same base (a^m × a^n) add exponents: a^(m+n).

Exponent Subtraction Rule

When dividing powers with the same base (a^m / a^n) subtract exponents: a^(m–n).

Square Numbers

Integers raised to the second power; e.g., 12² = 144, 15² = 225, 25² = 625.

Square Root

The inverse of squaring; √x = x^{1/2}.

Cube Root

x^{1/3}; the number that, when cubed, returns x.

Trigonometric SOH-CAH-TOA

Mnemonic: Sin = Opp/Hyp, Cos = Adj/Hyp, Tan = Opp/Adj for right triangles.

Common Sine Values

sin 0° = 0, 30° = 0.5, 45° ≈ 0.707, 60° ≈ 0.866, 90° = 1.

Common Cosine Values

cos 0° = 1, 30° ≈ 0.866, 45° ≈ 0.707, 60° = 0.5, 90° = 0.

Logarithm (p-value)

pX = –log[X]; used for pH, pKa, etc.

Antilog

The inverse of a log: if y = –log x, then x = 10^(–y).

SI Unit – Meter (m)

Base unit of length in the SI system.

SI Unit – Kilogram (kg)

Base unit of mass in the SI system.

SI Unit – Second (s)

Base unit of time in the SI system.

Kelvin (K)

SI base unit for temperature; 0 °C = 273 K.

Mole (mol)

SI unit for amount of substance; 1 mol = 6.02 × 10²³ particles.

Ampere (A)

SI unit of electric current.

Pascal (Pa)

SI unit of pressure; 1 Pa = 1 N/m².

Giga- (G) Prefix

1 × 10⁹ of a base unit.

Mega- (M) Prefix

1 × 10⁶ of a base unit.

Kilo- (k) Prefix

1 × 10³ of a base unit.

Milli- (m) Prefix

1 × 10⁻³ of a base unit.

Micro- (μ) Prefix

1 × 10⁻⁶ of a base unit.

Nano- (n) Prefix

1 × 10⁻⁹ of a base unit.

Angstrom (Å)

1 Å = 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m; common length scale for atoms.

Kinematic Variable – Δx

Displacement; change in position (xf – xi).

Kinematic Variable – v

Velocity; rate of change of displacement (m/s).

Kinematic Variable – a

Acceleration; rate of change of velocity (m/s²).

Kinematic Equation (no a)

Δx = v t when acceleration = 0.

Kinematic Equation (no x)

vf = vi + a t.

Kinematic Equation (no v_f)

Δx = v_i t + ½ a t².

Projectile Motion – Vx

Horizontal component of velocity; constant when air resistance neglected.

Projectile Motion – Vy at Apex

Vertical velocity equals zero at the top of trajectory.

Newton’s Second Law

F = m a; net force causes acceleration.

Weight (Fg)

Force due to gravity: Fg = m g (~9.8 m/s²).

Universal Gravitation

F = G M₁ M₂ / r²; attractive force between masses.

Static Friction

Force resisting initiation of motion; 0 ≤ fs ≤ μs N.

Kinetic Friction

Force opposing motion of sliding objects; fk = μk N.

Centripetal Acceleration

a_c = v² / r toward circle’s center.

Centripetal Force

F_c = m v² / r; net inwards force for circular motion.

Circuit Element – Resistor

Opposes current; measured in ohms (Ω).

Circuit Element – Capacitor

Stores charge; capacitance C = Q/V (farads).

Ohm’s Law

V = I R relates voltage, current, resistance.

Power in Circuits

P = I V = I²R = V² / R.

Series Resistors

R_eq = R₁+R₂+…; same current flows through each.

Parallel Resistors

1/Req = Σ 1/Ri; share same voltage.

Series Capacitors

1/Ceq = Σ 1/Ci; inverse of resistors in series.

Parallel Capacitors

C_eq = C₁+ C₂+… ; additive like resistors in series.

Capacitor Energy

U = ½ C V² = ½ Q V.

Torque (τ)

τ = r F sinθ; rotational equivalent of force.

Moment of Inertia (I)

Rotational mass term; resists angular acceleration.

Angular Acceleration (α)

Rate of change of angular velocity; τ = I α.

Rotational Equilibrium

Στ = 0; net torque zero so ω constant.

Radian

Angular measure; 2π rad = 360°.

Strong Acid

Substance that fully dissociates in water, e.g., HCl, H₂SO₄, HClO₄.

Strong Base

Substance that fully dissociates to give OH⁻, e.g., NaOH, Ba(OH)₂.

Arrhenius Acid

Produces H⁺ in aqueous solution.

Arrhenius Base

Produces OH⁻ in aqueous solution.

Brønsted–Lowry Acid

Proton (H⁺) donor.

Brønsted–Lowry Base

Proton (H⁺) acceptor.

Lewis Acid

Electron-pair acceptor.

Lewis Base

Electron-pair donor.

Ka (Acid Dissociation Constant)

Equilibrium constant for HA ⇌ H⁺ + A⁻; higher Ka means stronger acid.

pKa

–log Ka; lower pKa = stronger acid.

pH

–log[H⁺]; acidity scale 0–14.

pOH

–log[OH⁻]; pH + pOH = 14 at 25 °C.

CARIO

Stability factors for conjugate bases: Charge, Atom, Resonance, Induction, Orbital.

Amino Acid – Glycine (Gly, G)

Smallest, achiral, non-polar amino acid.

Amino Acid – Alanine (Ala, A)

Non-polar, methyl side chain.

Amino Acid – Valine (Val, V)

Branched, non-polar, hydrophobic.

Amino Acid – Leucine (Leu, L)

Branched, non-polar, hydrophobic.

Amino Acid – Isoleucine (Ile, I)

Branched, non-polar, hydrophobic; additional chiral center.

Amino Acid – Methionine (Met, M)

Non-polar with thio-ether; start codon AUG.

Amino Acid – Phenylalanine (Phe, F)

Aromatic, non-polar benzyl side chain.

Amino Acid – Tryptophan (Trp, W)

Aromatic indole, non-polar, largest amino acid.

Amino Acid – Proline (Pro, P)

Cyclic imino acid; induces kinks in proteins.

Amino Acid – Serine (Ser, S)

Polar, uncharged hydroxymethyl side chain.

Amino Acid – Threonine (Thr, T)

Polar, uncharged, second chiral center.

Amino Acid – Cysteine (Cys, C)

Polar, thiol side chain; forms disulfide bonds.

Amino Acid – Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)

Polar aromatic with phenolic OH.

Amino Acid – Asparagine (Asn, N)

Polar amide derivative of aspartate.

Amino Acid – Glutamine (Gln, Q)

Polar amide derivative of glutamate.

Amino Acid – Aspartic Acid (Asp, D)

Negatively charged (acidic) side chain at physiological pH.

Amino Acid – Glutamic Acid (Glu, E)

Negatively charged (acidic) side chain; longer than Asp.

Amino Acid – Lysine (Lys, K)

Positively charged (basic), long aliphatic chain ending in NH₃⁺.

Amino Acid – Arginine (Arg, R)

Positively charged guanidinium group; highest pKa basic.

Amino Acid – Histidine (His, H)

Positively charged at low pH; imidazole ring with pKa ≈ 6.

Isoelectric Point (pI)

pH at which an amino acid has net zero charge (zwitterion).

Hexokinase

Enzyme catalyzing glucose → glucose-6-phosphate; traps glucose in cell; uses ATP.

Phosphoglucose Isomerase

Converts glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate.

Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

Rate-limiting glycolysis enzyme; F6P → fructose-1,6-bisphosphate; uses ATP.

Aldolase

Splits fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and DHAP.

Triose Phosphate Isomerase

Interconverts DHAP and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P).

Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Forms 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate and NADH from G3P.

Phosphoglycerate Kinase

1,3-BPG → 3-PG with substrate-level phosphorylation producing ATP.

Pyruvate Kinase

PEP → pyruvate; substrate-level phosphorylation; irreversible step 10.

Mitosis – Prophase

Chromatin condenses, nuclear envelope breaks, spindle forms.

Mitosis – Metaphase

Chromosomes align at metaphase plate.

Mitosis – Anaphase

Sister chromatids separate toward opposite poles.