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Calculate the average net charge on phenylalanine if it is in a solution that has a ph of 8.70.

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Phenylalanine has two known pKa charges: 1.83 and 9.13. To determine their individual ionic dissociation charges at pH 10, the equation to be used is

pH = pKa + log [α/(1-α)]

At pKa 1.83:
10 = 1.83 + log [α₁/(1-α₁)]
α₁ = 0.99999

At pKa 9.13:
10 = 9.13 + log [α₂/(1-α₂)]
α₂ = 0.88114

Average Net Charge = 0.99999 + 0.88114 = 1.88
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