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Ch. 2 - Chemical Principles
Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTortora 14th EditionCh. 2 - Chemical PrinciplesProblem 7
Chapter 2, Problem 7

Classify each of the molecules on the left as an acid, base, or salt. The dissociation products of the molecules are shown to help you.
HNO3 → H+ + NO⁻3
a. Acid
b. Base
c. Salt

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the molecule given: HNO₃ (nitric acid).
Look at the dissociation products: HNO₃ → H⁺ + NO₃⁻.
Recall that an acid is a molecule that donates a proton (H⁺) when it dissociates in water.
Since HNO₃ dissociates to release H⁺ ions, classify it as an acid.
Confirm that the other product, NO₃⁻, is the conjugate base formed after the acid donates the proton.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acids, Bases, and Salts Classification

Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water, bases release hydroxide ions (OH⁻), and salts are formed from the neutralization of acids and bases, typically dissociating into cations and anions other than H⁺ or OH⁻.
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Dissociation of Molecules in Water

Dissociation refers to the process where molecules split into ions in solution. Understanding which ions are produced helps classify the molecule as an acid, base, or salt based on the presence of H⁺ or OH⁻ ions.
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Nomenclature and Ion Identification

Recognizing common ions such as H⁺ (hydrogen ion) and NO₃⁻ (nitrate ion) is essential. For example, HNO₃ dissociates into H⁺ and NO₃⁻, indicating it is an acid because it releases H⁺ ions in solution.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The artificial sweetener aspartame, or NutraSweet®, is made by joining aspartic acid to methylated phenylalanine, as shown in the following.

a. What types of molecules are aspartic acid and phenylalanine?

b. What direction is the hydrolysis reaction (left to right or right to left)?

c. What direction is the dehydration synthesis reaction?

d. Circle the atoms involved in the formation of water.

e. Identify the peptide bond.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

a. H2O (water)

b. O2 (oxygen)

c. C18H29SO3

d. FeO (iron oxide)

e. F2C=CF2 (Teflon)

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Textbook Question

Draw a simple lipid, and show how it could be modified to a phospholipid.

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Textbook Question

Classify the following as subunits of either a carbohydrate, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid.

a. <IMAGE>

b. <IMAGE>

c. <IMAGE>

d. Thymine nucleotide

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Textbook Question

Classify each of the molecules on the left as an acid, base, or salt. The dissociation products of the molecules are shown to help you.

H2SO4 → 2H+ + SO42⁻

a. Acid

b. Base

c. Salt

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Textbook Question

The following diagram shows the bacteriorhodopsin protein. Indicate the regions of primary, secondary, and tertiary structure. Does this protein have quaternary structure?

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