Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    matzkdav's Avatar
    matzkdav Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jun 27, 2009, 09:06 AM
    What would you predict the overall charge on serotonin to be at low pH levels?
    I'm having trouble with this one.
    My answer would be that the overall charge on serotonin would be negative since acidity increases at low pH levels?
    Any advice?

    Thanks!
    Perito's Avatar
    Perito Posts: 3,139, Reputation: 150
    Ultra Member
     
    #2

    Jun 27, 2009, 07:55 PM

    Serotonin has one -OH group on a phenyl ring. The hydrogen on that is acidic. It also has an -NH2 group that can accept a proton (hydrogen atom) and a -NH group where the N is in a 5-member ring. You can look up the structure to see what I'm talking about.

    As acidity increases, the -OH will be less and less ionized so it will be neutral. The -NH2 group will become -NH3+ and the -NH group will become NH2+. The latter group will disperse the electrical charge around the conjugated ring structure so it will actually accept a proton more readily than the -NH2 group.

    Overall, the structure will become more positive. There will, of course, be other anions hanging around.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search


Check out some similar questions!

How can I predict fog ? [ 2 Answers ]

How can I predict fog ?

I can always predict things that will happen [ 4 Answers ]

I always predict what will happen in my life. I always know how certain things transpire in certain situations. I know when someone is being dishonest. Are these things happening because I have psychic abilities?:confused:

Hiring a person to predict what you'll look like in 30 years [ 3 Answers ]

Im a young guy, however I really want to know how I will look like in 30 or more years. On TV (in the UK) there is a show where they show a person now, and their forecast of how the person will look like in 30 years. They use these cosmetic specialist, etc. On one of their shows.. they...


View more questions Search