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Topic: What does it mean when something has no pka?  (Read 1922 times)

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Offline trishasales714

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What does it mean when something has no pka?
« on: May 14, 2017, 10:16:32 AM »
I'm trying to figure out which of the amino acids have no pka and what it means if a certain amino acid has no pka? Since some amino acids have more nonpolar side chains (example alanine or phenylalanine or glycine) than others, then shouldn't these side chains not have a pka?

Offline Arkcon

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Re: What does it mean when something has no pka?
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2017, 04:25:05 PM »
Clarify your topic, and address this:  wouldn't all amino acids have a pKa associated with the amino and carboxyl group?

I'm trying to figure out which of the amino acids have no pka

OK.

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and what it means if a certain amino acid has no pka?


What do you expect?  What you expect, explains why you're asking, and helps us get to the bottom of what you might be missing.

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Since some amino acids have more nonpolar side chains (example alanine or phenylalanine or glycine) than others, then shouldn't these side chains not have a pka?

You said you want to figure out which amino acids don't have a pKa, now you say you know the nonpolar side chain doesn't have a pKa.  So what?  Rocks, cars and people don't have listed pKa's, but compounds often do.  You seem to be picking things apart at random, but why?
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

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