Practice question · Numerical answer
A protein chain is assembled from 150 amino acids joined into one continuous strand. How many water molecules are released in forming it?
Hints
- Each peptide bond formed releases exactly one water molecule.
- Joining n monomers into one chain forms n - 1 bonds.
Show the answer
149
Why
Joining 150 amino acids into a single chain forms peptide bonds, and condensation releases one water per bond, so 149 water molecules. The off-by-one is the point: bonds count the gaps, not the units.
Practise What Is Life? The Chemistry of Living Things
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More questions on What Is Life? The Chemistry of Living Things
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