Noncovalent Interactions in Large Molecules (College Board AP® Chemistry)
Study Guide
Written by: Oluwapelumi Kolawole
Reviewed by: Stewart Hird
Noncovalent Interactions in Large Molecules
Many substances with very large molecular weight make up the structure of living organisms and tissues
Some examples include starch and cellulose, which abound in plants, as well as proteins, which are found in both plants and animals
These molecules are known as polymers and are made of smaller molecules called monomers
Chemical Structures of Starch and Cellulose
Diagram showing the structures of the starch polymer made from the α-glucose monomers while the cellulose polymer is made from β-glucose monomers
Some important noncovalent interactions which occur in large molecules include:
Hydrogen bonding
Involves interaction between the polar hydrogen atom from an O-H or N-H bond and the lone electron pairs of very electronegative atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine
Electrostatic/Ionic interactions
These are attractive interactions observed in molecules with permanent dipoles
Hydrophobic interactions
These interactions are seen between nonpolar molecules and polar molecules such as water
It explains why large biomolecules like oils do not dissolve in water
Van der Waals interactions
A type of interaction that involves polar molecules with permanent dipoles (dipole-dipole) or nonpolar molecules with induced dipoles
Some of these interactions have been studied and shown to be present between proteins and phenolic compounds found in plant-based foods
These interactions can affect the nutritional properties of food
Noncovalent Interactions between Proteins and Ferulic Acid
Diagram showing possible non-covalent interactions between proteins and Ferulic acid
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