General Science
General science tests basic physics, chemistry and biology that support pharmacy practice. Questions are usually conceptual and often use everyday examples.
Core rules
- Density is mass divided by volume; weight is a force and changes with gravity while mass does not. Speed is scalar; velocity is speed with direction. Newton's laws describe inertia, force and action-reaction.
- pH measures hydrogen ion concentration; lower pH is more acidic. Acids donate protons and bases accept them. The cell is the basic unit of life; mitochondria produce ATP; the nucleus contains genetic material.
- In electricity, current is measured in amperes, voltage in volts and resistance in ohms. Metals conduct; non-metals vary.
Worked example
A solid has mass 200 g and volume 50 mL. Density = mass/volume = 200/50 = 4 g/mL. If the same object were taken to the Moon, its mass would remain 200 g but its weight would be lower because gravitational acceleration is lower.
Traps
Do not use weight and mass interchangeably. A pH change of 1 unit means a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration. Do not confuse speed with velocity. Check whether a question asks for a unit or a numerical value.