Water, pH and
Buffers
Most biochemical reactions occur
in an aqueous environment.
Water is highly polar because of its
bent geometry.
Water
Water is highly cohesive because of
intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Water participates in H-bonding
with biomolecules.
Polarity
H2O is a polar molecule
H H
1 molecule of water
H
H
H
H
H O
O
H
O
H
H O
H
H
H O
O
H
O
H
O
A LOT OF MOLECULES O
O
H H H
H
H
OF WATER H H
O O
H
H O H
O
H H H
H
O
O H
H
H H O H O
H
H
H H
Hydrogen Bonding
Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen bonds are strong dipole-dipole or charge-dipole interactions that
arise between a covalently bound hydrogen and lone pair of electrons.
They typically involve two electronegative atoms (frequently nitrogen and
oxygen).
Hydrogen bonds are strongest when the bonded molecules allow for linear
bonding patterns.
Ideally, the three atoms involved are in a line.
Importance of Hydrogen Bonds
Source of unique properties of water
Structure and function of proteins
Structure and function of DNA
Structure and function of polysaccharides
Binding of substrates to enzymes
Binding of hormones to receptors
Matching of mRNA and tRNA
Biological Relevance of Hydrogen Bonds
Properties of Water
1. Water as a Solvent
2. Water Molecules Are Cohesive and Adhesive
3. Water Has a High Surface Tension
4. Water Has a High Heat Capacity and High Heat of Vaporization
5. Ice is Less Dense than Water
Water as a Solvent
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
Solvation/hydration
Miscible
immiscible
Water Molecules are Cohesive and Adhesive
• Cohesion refers to the ability of water
molecules to cling to each other due to
hydrogen bonding.
• Adhesion refers to the ability of water
molecules to cling to other polar surfaces.
Capillary action
Water Has a High Surface Tension
Surface tension – a measure of
the strength of water’s surface
Water Has a High Heat Capacity and High
Heat of Vaporization
• Heat Capacity of a substance is the
amount of heat needed to raise or
lower 1g of the substance by oC.
• Heat of Vaporization – the amount of
energy to convert 1g or a substance
from a liquid to a gas.
Ice is Less Dense than Water
Water Ionizes p. 507
Amphiprotic - substance that can either donate or accept a proton, depending
on the circumstances
Proton Hydration
Acids and Bases
Svante Arrhenius (1884) p. 488
• Acid – Any substance that provides H+ ions when
dissolved in water.
• Bases – Any substance that provides OH ions when
-
dissolved in water.
Johannes Bronsted and Thomas Lowry (1923) p.498
Acids – a compound that donates a hydrogen ion
(H+) in a reaction; a proton donor.
Base – A compound that accepts a hydrogen ion (H+)
in a reaction; a proton acceptor.
Amphiprotic/amphoteric – water, HCO3- , HSO4 ,H2PO4-
PROTICITY
• monoprotic acid – An acid that
gives up only one proton (H+)
per molecule when dissolved.
• diprotic acid – An acid that gives
up two protons (H+) per
molecule when dissolved.
• triprotic acid An acid that gives
up three protons (H+) per
molecule when dissolved.
Conjugate Acid–Base Pairs
• Conjugate acid–base pair – two chemical species, one an acid and one a
base, that differ from each other through the loss or gain of a proton (H+)
• Conjugate acid – is the chemical species formed when a proton (H+) is
added to a Brønsted–Lowry base
• Conjugate base – is the chemical species that remains when a proton (H+)
is removed from a Brønsted–Lowry acid.
How Do We Define the Strength of Acids and
Bases? p.512
• Strong acid – an acid that ionizes completely in aqueous solution
• Weak acid – an acid that is only partially ionized in aqueous solution
• Strong base – a base that ionizes completely in aqueous solution
• Weak base – a base that is only partially ionized in aqueous solution
Strong Acids and Bases
Organic Acids and Bases
• Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, and Amines are Acids and Bases
pH p. 517
• pH = The concentration of H+ ions
pH = - log[ H30+]
• The negative logarithm of the
hydronium ion concentration in an pOH = - log[ OH+]
aqueous solution.
• The pH and pOH must always add up pH pOH 14
to 14.
• In neutral solution, [H+] = [OH–] and
the pH is 7 at 25˚C.
Acid–Base Neutralization Chemical
Reactions
• Acid–base neutralization reaction is the chemical reaction between an
acid and a hydroxide base in which a salt and water are the products.
Why is pH of importance to living
organisms?
1. the shapes and functions of molecules
2. the rates of many chemical reactions
3. the ability of two molecules to bind to each other
4. the ability of ions or molecules to dissolve in water.
Buffers
Buffer - a solution that resists change in pH when limited amounts of an
acid or a base are added to it; an aqueous solution containing a weak
acid and its conjugate base.
Biological Buffers p. 522
• Phosphate buffer system
• Carbonic acid / bicarbonate buffer system
• Protein buffer system
Mechanism by which Buffers Operate
• CH3COOH + CH3COO- + OH- = 2CH3COO- + H2O (you get more conjugate base)
• CH3COOH + CH3COO- + H+ = 2CH3COOH (you get more weak acid)
