A scientist finds a mysterious substance in the form of a green, solid cube, and

Question

A scientist finds a mysterious substance in the form of a green, solid cube, and she wants to learn more about the chemicals that make up this substance. She places the cube into a glass of water, and it disappears. Further analysis shows that there are now positively and negatively charged atoms dispersed in the water. Is the mystery substance hydrophobic or hydrophilic? What type of chemical bonds were most likely holding together the atoms in the cube before it was dissolved? Prions are special types of proteins found in the tissues of many organisms. Certain rare forms of prions with an unusual tertiary structure can cause severe and fatal diseases in humans (e.g., the human equivalent of mad cow disease). Humans might be exposed to these disease-causing prions in contaminated meat. Pretend a piece of meat is suspected to be contaminated with disease-causing prions. What could be done to the meat before disposal to make sure its prions are denatured and no longer have their harmful tertiary structures? Explain why that treatment would work? Create a labeled diagram depicting a calm layer of water (H2O) molecules connected by hydrogen bonds. Use proper visual representations of the molecules and label the types of chemical bonds found in your diagram. Now pretend someone stirs the water, disrupting the hydrogen bonds. Create a second labeled diagram showing the water molecules that are now freed, no longer connected by hydrogen bonds. Again, label the types of chemical bonds found in your diagram.

Explanation / Answer

Q1; Since the substance got dissolved in the water, it means it was hydrophilic(water loving).The substance is a salt where cations and anions share an ionic bond before dissolving in water.

Q2;Prions are not easily denatured or destroyed by ionizing radiations, enzymes like proteases,or by heat treatment.Although these can limit their infectious activity but cannot completely destroy prions.So, treatment of the substance contaminated with prions is done with chemicals like sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and with strong acidic detergents in an autoclave at a temperature of 134 degree celcius and pressure of about 15 lb for about half an hour and it proves effective in complete denaturing of prions.Scientists are nowadays working on ozone treatment to denature prions.

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