Amino acids model answers Flashcards
why does alanine show optical isomerism?
there is a carbon atom with 4 different functional groups attached, this produces two molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images
Describe and explain a catalyst.
Catalysts increase the rate of reaction but remain chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.
They provide an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy.
Define stereospecific site
Only one enantiomer can bond and react with enzyme because each molecule will have different arrangement of side chains
Why is reaction zero order at high concentrations?
At high concentrations all enzyme active sites are occupied therefore increasing substrate concentration cannot increase rate of reaction as there are no active sites spare to catalyse reaction
How to distinguish between stereoisomers
Plane-polarised light
Rotated equally in opposite directions
Why is polymer A degradable?
Can be hydrolysed
Can be attacked/react with acid/base/nucleophiles
How can amino acids be separated?
Chromatography or electrophoresis
Explain interaction between the amino acids chain in DNA
Nitrogen and oxygen are very electronegative
Therefore N-H and C=O are very polar
Which results in formation of hydrogen bond between O and H
In which lone pair on O atom is strongly attracted to H delta plus
Why is urea effective at separating complementary strands of DNA
The amino/NH2 in urea
Are able to substitute for the H-bonds in the double helix
Why does ethanoyl chloride react readily with nucleophiles?
Large charge on carbonyl carbon atom due to bonding to O atom and Cl (difference in electronegativity)
Nucleophiles donate electrons/lone pair
