Chapter 18, Problem 108AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The entropy of denaturation and the entropy of denaturation per amino acid are to be calculated with enthalpy of denaturation and melting temperature.

Concept Introduction:

Entropy is a thermodynamic function. Entropy is the measure of randomness or disorder of the system. The unit of entropy is $\text{J/K}\text{.mol}$.

When entropy is positive, the process is spontaneous whereas entropy is zero, for an equilibrium process.

Entropy changes when a native protein is denatured. The mathematical equation is as:

$\Delta S_{denaturation}=\frac{\Delta H_{denaturation}}{T_{melting}}$

Here, $T_{melting}$ is the melting temperature in kelvin, $\Delta H_{denaturation}$ is the enthalpy change, and $\Delta S_{denaturation}$ is the entropy change of the protein.

The entropy of denaturation per amino acid can be calculated as:

$\Delta S=\frac{\Delta S_{denaturation}}{\text{total number}\text{of amino}\text{acid}}$