Category 5C within foundational concept 5 of the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section of the MCAT exam primarily focuses on the separation of substances as well as purification methods. Category 5C is the third of five content categories that you will be tested on as part of foundational concept 5.
Overview of Foundational Concept 5, Category 5C
The separation of components is typically required to analyze complex mixtures of substances, especially in cases of biologically relevant materials. There have been a litany of methods developed to accomplish this, but methods that are implemented are dependent on the type of substances being used. Yet all of these methods rely on the magnification of potential differences in the strength of intermolecular interactions. This is the kind of information you will be tested on during category 5C within foundational concept 5.
In addition to extraction, liquid and gas chromatography, and electrophoresis, the following topics and subtopics will appear in category 5C:
Photo: Association of American Medical Colleges
As the graphic illustrates, you will answer questions based on your comprehension of coursework in first-semester biochemistry and two-semester sequence of organic chemistry.