nmdcat.online
BIO NMDCAT Biological Importance of Water
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The dissolution of a protein’s tertiary structure by a high concentration of urea is an example of the disruption of the hydrophobic effect, which is central to protein folding. The hydrophobic effect is driven by

A. The strong attraction between non-polar molecules for each other
B. The thermodynamic drive for water molecules to maximize their entropy by excluding non-polar groups
✓
C. The formation of covalent bonds between the non-polar groups in the protein core
D. The ability of water to form hydrogen bonds with hydrophobic side chains

📝 Explanation

Water molecules form highly ordered "cage-like" structures around exposed non-polar groups, which decreases entropy. To minimize this, water forces non-polar groups to aggregate, freeing the caged water and increasing overall entropy. This entropic force is the hydrophobic effect.

📖 Additional Information

  • The strong attraction between non-polar molecules for each other
  • The thermodynamic drive for water molecules to maximize their entropy by excluding non-polar groups
  • The formation of covalent bonds between the non-polar groups in the protein core
  • The ability of water to form hydrogen bonds with hydrophobic side chains

Water molecules form highly ordered "cage-like" structures around exposed non-polar groups, which decreases entropy. To minimize this, water forces non-polar groups to aggregate, freeing the caged water and increasing overall entropy. This entropic force is the hydrophobic effect.

🔗 Share This Question

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

🧭 Navigate Questions

Previous Question

The most appropriate explanation for the high boiling point of water relative to other molecules of similar size is the

Next Question

In a human consuming a very salty meal, the resulting increase in blood plasma osmolarity directly leads to

Back to All Questions

🔗 Related MCQs

An increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancies within a population can often be epidemiologically correlated with a prior increase in the prevalence of which sexually transmitted disease?
July 16, 2026
In the life cycle of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), the virus travels along nerve fibers to reach the sensory ganglia. The cellular mechanism responsible for this retrograde transport utilizes:
July 16, 2026
A defining characteristic of the lesions associated with the secondary stage of syphilis is that they:
July 16, 2026
The causative agent of genital herpes, HSV-2, is enveloped. The biological significance of this viral envelope in the context of transmission is that it makes the virus:
July 16, 2026
The structural basis for the severe cardiovascular complications seen in tertiary syphilis, such as aortic aneurysms, is the chronic inflammation and destruction of:
July 16, 2026

Categories

View all →