During protein folding the entropy of the solvent molecules _______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During protein folding, the entropy of the solvent molecules, typically water, increases. This is because as the protein folds into its native structure, hydrophobic amino acid residues tend to be buried in the interior of the protein, reducing their contact with water. This leads to a more ordered arrangement of water molecules around the hydrophobic regions when they are exposed, and as these regions become buried, the water molecules are no longer as constrained and can move more freely, thus increasing the entropy of the solvent.

During Protein Folding the Entropy of the Solvent Molecules _______