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The Survey of the Natural Sciences

The Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS) is the first section of the DAT. There is a 90 minute time limit for test-takers to do 100 questions (40 Biology, 30 General Chemistry and 30 Organic Chemistry). Questions are not randomly mixed, i.e. test takers will first be presented with the 40 Biology questions, than the 30 General Chemistry Questions, than lastly the 30 Organic Chemistry questions.

Below is a list of Topics the DAT covers in the SNS test as listed by the ADA.


Major Biology Topics to Know for the DAT
Cell and Molecular Biology

  • Origin of life 
  • Cell metabolism (including photosynthesis/enzymology)
  • Cellular processes
  • Thermodynamics
  • Organelle structure and function
  • Mitosis/meiosis
  • Cell structure 
  • Experimental cell biology


Diversity of Life

  • Biological Organization and Relationship of Major Taxa (Six-Kingdom, Three-Domain System) – plantae, animalia, protista, fungi, eubacteria (bacteria), archae, etc.


Structure and Function of Systems

  • Integumentary
  • Skeletal muscular 
  • Circulatory
  • Immunological 
  • Digestive 
  • Respiratory 
  • Urinary 
  • Nervous/senses
  •  Endocrine 
  • Reproductive 

Developmental Biology

  • Fertilization 
  • Descriptive embryology 
  • Developmental mechanisms
  • Experimental embryology


Genetics

  • Molecular genetics,
  • Human genetics
  • Classical genetics 
  • Chromosomal genetics
  • Genetic technology


Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior

  • Natural selection
  • Population genetics/speciation
  • Cladistics 
  • Population and community ecology
  • Ecosystems 
  • Animal behavior (including social behavior)


Major General Chemistry Topics to Know for the DAT
Stoichiometry and General Concepts  
  • Percent composition 
  • Empirical formulae
  • Balancing equations 
  • Moles and molecular formulas 
  • Molar mass 
  • Density
  • Calculations from balanced equations

Gases
  • Kinetic molecular theory of gases
  • Dalton's, Boyle's, Charles’s, and ideal gas law

Liquids and Solids 
  • Intermolecular forces
  • Phase changes
  • Vapor pressure
  • Structures
  • Polarity
  • Properties

Solutions 
  • Polarity,
  • Properties (colligative, non-colligative)
  • Forces
  • Concentration calculations

Acids and Bases
  • pH
  • Strength
  • Brønsted-Lowry reactions 
  • Calculations

Chemical Equilibria 
  • Molecular
  • Acid/base 
  • Precipitation 
  • Calculations,
  • Le Chatelier’s principle

Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry
  • Laws of thermodynamics 
  • Hess’s law 
  • Spontaneity 
  • Enthalpies and entropies
  • Heat transfer

Chemical Kinetics
  • Rate laws
  • Activation energy 
  • Half-life

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
  • Balancing equations
  • Determination of oxidation numbers
  • Electrochemical calculations
  • Electrochemical concepts and terminology

Atomic and Molecular Structure
  • Electron configuration
  • Orbital types 
  • Lewis-Dot diagrams 
  • Atomic theory 
  • Quantum theory
  • Molecular geometry 
  • Bond types
  • Subatomic particles

Periodic Properties
  • Representative elements
  • Transition elements
  • Periodic trends
  • Descriptive chemistry

Nuclear Reactions
  • Balancing equations
  • Binding energy
  • Decay processes
  • Particles
  • Terminology

Laboratory
  • Basic techniques
  • Equipment
  • Error analysis
  • Safety
  • Data analysis

Major Organic Chemistry Topics to Know for the DAT
Mechanisms
  • Energetics 
  • Structure - elimination, addition, free radical, substitution mechanisms

Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecules 
  • Spectroscopy (1H NMR, 13C NMR, infrared, and multi-spectra)
  • Structure (polarity, intermolecular forces, solubility, melting/boiling point, etc.)
  • Laboratory theory and techniques (i.e. TLC, separations, etc.)

Stereochemistry (structure evaluation)
  • Chirality
  • Isomer relationships
  • Conformations
Nomenclature 
  • IUPAC rules and functional groups in molecules
Individual Reactions of the Major Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions to 
Synthesize Compounds 
  • Alkene/alkyne
  • Aromatic
  • Substitution/elimination,
  • Aldehyde/ ketone
  • Carboxylic acids and derivatives
  • Others 
For each area listed above, the following sub-areas apply: general, one-step, and multi-step. 



Acid-Base Chemistry 
  • Ranking acidity/basicity (structure analysis and pH/pKa data analysis)
  • Prediction of products and equilibria
Aromatics and Bonding 
  • Concept of aromaticity
  • Resonance
  • Atomic/molecular orbitals
  • Hybridization
  • Bond angles/lengths.


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