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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3bm079

Histidine has values of 1.8 (alpha-), 6.0 (imidazolium side chain, on deprotonation) and 9.2 (alpha-). The average net charge per molecule at pH 6.0, to the nearest 0.1, is

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: A

Below pH 1.8 the species is ; between 1.8 and 6.0 it is ; between 6.0 and 9.2 it is (the pI is 7.6). At pH 6.0 = of the imidazolium, half the molecules are and half are , so the average is 0.50, i.e. to one decimal (the other groups contribute under 0.01).
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