Question

How many water molecules would be produced in making a polypeptide that is 14 amino acids long?

Answer 1

13 Amino acids have a common structure where there is a carboxyl group at one end (CO2H) and a amino group at the other (NH2). There's also a side chain that's unique for every amino acid. When two amino acids are joined in producing a polypeptide, the carboxyl and amino groups are linked with the release of a water molecule. So in this problem, you simply need to count the number of links, which will be 1 less than the number of amino acids in the chain. Hence, for a 14 amino acid chain, you need 13 links which produced 13 water molecules.

Answer 2

$\boxed{3}$ water molecules would be produced in making a polypeptide that is 14 amino acids long.

Further Explanation:

The organic compounds that consist of an amine $\left( {{\text{ - N}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}} \right)$ functional group, a carboxyl $\left( {{\text{ - COOH}}} \right)$ functional group, and a side chain are known as amino acids. Different amino acids have different side chains. These compounds have carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in them.

Two amino acids are joined to each other with the help of peptide bonds which are formed by the removal of water molecules by the interaction between the acids. This happens when the carboxyl group $\left( {{\text{ - COOH}}} \right)$ of one amino acid reacts with the amine group $\left( {{\text{ - COOH}}} \right)$ of another amino acid. Since the formation of peptide bonds result in the removal of the water molecule, it is also called dehydration synthesis or a condensation reaction.

Polypeptides are linear chains of amino acids that are linked together by peptide or amide bonds. These are classified on the basis of their sources and function. Polypeptides are the building units for proteins.

Since one peptide bond is formed by the removal of one water molecule by the interaction of two amino acids, it is clear that the number of water molecules formed is one less than the number of amino acids present. So 14 amino acids would produce 13 water molecules.

Learn More:

1. Why extraction is a useful method of pre-purification of organic compounds? brainly.com/question/5881840
2. Write the name of the hydrocarbon: brainly.com/question/3551546

Answer Details:

Grade: Senior School

Chapter: Amino Acids

Subject: Chemistry

Keywords: amino acids, 13, water molecules, peptide bonds, polypeptide, proteins, building units.