Question

One of the main functions of chondroitin sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan, is to act as a lubrican in skeletal joints by creating a gel-like medium that is resilient to friction and shock. This function is attributed to a distinctive property of chondrotin sulfate, where the volume occupied by the molecule is much greater in solution than in the ehydrated solid.

Select the statements that describe the characteristics of glycosaminoglycans that allow chondrotin sulfate to occupy a much larger volume in solution

--- Chondroitin sulfate consists of several thousand repeats of the dissacharide subunits that trap a large number of water molecules. This increases the molecular volume of the molecule

--- In solution, the highly branched structure of chondroitin sulfate froms a gel-like matrix that interacts with numerous water molecules. This increases the molecular volume of the molecule.

---- In solution, chondroitin sulfate molecules form double helicies that associate with one another and trap a larger number of water molecules. This increases the molecular volume of the molecule.

---- Chondroitin sulfate has a high density of negative charges. To ensure adequate separation of negatively charged groups, chondroitin sulfate adopts an extended rod-like structure that increases its molecular volume in solution

---- The highly polar nature of chondroitin sulfate attracts numerous water molecules. Non-covalent interactions with a large number of water molecules increases its molecular volume.

Answer 1

The last two statements are correct explanations for the increase in volume of chondroitin sulfate in the dissolved state.

Firstly, the negative charges exert repulsive forces that creates a rod-like extended conformation of the molecule. Secondly, the polar moieties attract numerous water molecules. Together, these two factors effect a large increase in the volume of the molecule.