Final answer:
Deoxyribose is the most soluble component of DNA, followed by guanine and then phosphate. The solubilities are consistent with the three-dimensional structure of DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relative solubilities of the components of DNA, deoxyribose, guanine, and phosphate, can be determined by considering their chemical structures and properties.
Deoxyribose is a sugar molecule and is highly soluble in water. It has hydroxyl (-OH) groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, making it readily dissolve in water.
Guanine is one of the nitrogenous bases found in DNA. It is less soluble in water compared to deoxyribose. This is because guanine does not have as many hydroxyl groups to interact with water molecules.
Phosphate is a charged molecule in DNA. It is the least soluble component in water among the three. This is because the phosphate group is highly polar and interacts less favorably with water molecules.
The solubilities of these components are consistent with the three-dimensional structure of double-stranded DNA. The hydrophilic sugar and nitrogenous bases are found on the outside of the DNA helix, allowing them to interact with water molecules. The hydrophobic bases are stacked in the interior of the helix, away from the water, reducing their solubility.