Chapter 18, Problem 18.93QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The temperature at which the denaturation of a protein can become spontaneous has to be calculated and the changes in entropy and enthalpy in a denaturation process has to be found.

Concept Information:

Protein is a macromolecule made of many number of amino acids.  They are essential molecules in the biological system. Denaturation of protein refers to the unfolding of the folded chain of protein.  The denaturation process can be initiated by heat energy.  The process of denaturation of protein is considered as an equilibrium reaction involving only one step.  For equilibrium reaction the change in free energy will be zero.  The temperature of denaturation of protein can be calculated using the values of the change in enthalpy and change in entropy in the system.

  ${\text{T}}_{\text{melting}}\text{=}\frac{{\text{ΔΗ}}_{\text{denaturation}}}{{\text{ΔS}}_{\text{denatuaration}}}$