Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 29 - Molecules and Solids - Search and Learn - Page 856: 3

Answer

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Work Step by Step

a. See pages 834-835. Weak bonds in structures such as DNA are important in cells because even low-energy processes (e.g., a simple collision) can break bonds, allowing a t-RNA molecule to release from the ribosome. This allows the molecules to fulfill particular roles within the cell. These processes can take place at relatively low temperatures of about 300 K. b. Heating proteins too much will break the relatively weak bonds that are responsible for their particular shape. Changing their structure will inhibit their ability to function properly. c. The strongest weak bond is the hydrogen bond (page 834). Hydrogen atoms are the smallest of all atoms and can be approached more closely. They also have a partial covalent character, which also makes them stronger than other dipole-dipole bonds. d. See page 837. If hydrogen bonds and other weak bonds were to become too strong, then the bonds between t-RNA and the ribosome, or between m-RNA and DNA, would be semi-permanent. If these bonds could not be broken by simple molecular collisions, the information in DNA could not be transcribed at relatively low temperatures, metabolism would be slowed down or stopped, and protein synthesis would take place much more slowly or not at all.
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