Final answer:
The high dielectric constant of water compared to proteins is due to the higher dipole moment of water molecules, which allows them to easily align in an external electrical field and exhibit greater polarization effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dielectric constant of water is so high compared to protein because water molecules have a higher dipole moment due to the unequal distribution of electrons between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
This distribution makes one end of the water molecule slightly positive and the other end slightly negative, which allows water molecules to align easily along an external electrical field, resulting in a high dielectric constant.
Additionally, the polar nature of water molecules makes them effective at polarizing within an electric field, further contributing to their high dielectric constant.