Question

The structure of biomolecules controls their structure, properties, function, and relationships with other biomolecules. Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between a given class of biomolecule and water?

a) Large carbohydrate polymers will not be soluble or stable in an aqueous solution.
b) If the outer surface of a protein contains a high density of non-polar amino acids, it can be water-soluble.
c) Since lipid chains are hydrophobic, the presence or absence of water does not affect how they group.
d) Nucleic acids can hydrogen bond, which allows them to base-pair and non-covalently bond with water.

Answer 1

The true statement about the relationship between biomolecules and water is that nucleic acids can hydrogen bond, allowing them to base-pair and non-covalently bond with water. This quality explains their solubility and capacity to interact with water molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between a given class of biomolecule and water is crucial in understanding their solubility, stability, and function in biological systems. When considering the statements provided, the most accurate is that nucleic acids can hydrogen bond, which allows them to base-pair and non-covalently bond with water. This is linked to their ability to form hydrogen bonds, a characteristic shared with water due to its polar nature.

Let's analyze the options:

• Large carbohydrate polymers are typically quite soluble in water, due to the many hydroxyl groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water. Hence, option a) is incorrect.
• Proteins with a high density of non-polar amino acids on their surface will not be soluble in water, as non-polar groups are hydrophobic. So, option b) is incorrect.
• Though lipid chains are hydrophobic, their grouping can indeed be affected by the presence of water, as they tend to form micelles or bilayers to minimize their contact with water. Thus, option c) is incorrect.
• Finally, nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA have the ability to form hydrogen bonds both within themselves (between bases) and with water molecules, which helps them dissolve in water. This makes option d) the correct statement.