Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the net charge on a phenylalanine molecule at pH 1?
A
+2
B
+1
C
0
D
-1
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the structure of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is an amino acid with a carboxyl group (-COOH), an amino group (-NH2), and a side chain containing a benzyl group. At very low pH, both the amino group and the carboxyl group are protonated.
Step 2: Recall the pKa values of the functional groups in phenylalanine. The amino group typically has a pKa around 9-10, and the carboxyl group has a pKa around 2. At pH 1, the environment is highly acidic, meaning the pH is below the pKa of both groups.
Step 3: Determine the protonation state of the amino group (-NH2). At pH 1, the amino group will be protonated to form -NH3⁺, contributing a positive charge.
Step 4: Determine the protonation state of the carboxyl group (-COOH). At pH 1, the carboxyl group remains protonated as -COOH, contributing no charge.
Step 5: Calculate the net charge of the molecule. Since the amino group contributes a +1 charge and the carboxyl group contributes 0 charge, the net charge of phenylalanine at pH 1 is +1.