Which one of the following amino acids is likely to be most polar in an aqueous solution at pH 7?
- glutamic acid
- glycine
- leucine
- valine - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 6
Which one of the following amino acids is likely to be most polar in an aqueous solution at pH 7?
- glutamic acid
- glycine
- leucine
- valine
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which one of the following amino acids is likely to be most polar in an aqueous solution at pH 7?
- glutamic acid
- glycine
- leucine
- valine - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the Amino Acids
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Answer
The amino acids provided in the question are:
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Leucine
Valine
Step 2
Evaluate Polarity at pH 7
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Answer
At pH 7, we consider the side chains of these amino acids:
Glutamic Acid: Contains a carboxyl group in its side chain, making it polar and negatively charged at this pH.
Glycine: The simplest amino acid with a neutral side chain, making it less polar than others with charged groups.
Leucine: Has a hydrophobic aliphatic side chain, which is nonpolar.
Valine: Similar to leucine, valine has a branched aliphatic nonpolar side chain.
Thus, glutamic acid is the most polar among them.
Step 3
Select the Most Polar Amino Acid
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Answer
Based on the previous evaluations, glutamic acid is likely to be the most polar amino acid in an aqueous solution at pH 7.