GUANIDIUM CHLORIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Guanidium chloride is a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH5N3Cl. It is a white crystalline powder composed of guanidium cations (CH6N3+) and chloride anions (Cl-). It is highly soluble in water and is commonly used in various scientific and biochemical applications.
Guanidium chloride is primarily known for its denaturing properties, meaning that it disrupts the structure and function of proteins. It has a strong ability to unfold proteins by breaking hydrogen bonds and disrupting the hydrophobic interactions that hold the protein structure together. This denaturing effect makes guanidium chloride a valuable tool in protein purification and isolation techniques.
In addition to its denaturing capabilities, guanidium chloride also possesses chaotropic properties. Chaotropic agents increase the solubility of hydrophobic molecules in water by disrupting the hydrogen bonding network of water molecules. This property allows guanidium chloride to solubilize hydrophobic proteins and DNA, enabling their extraction and purification.
Guanidium chloride finds its applications in various fields, including biochemistry, molecular biology, and protein chemistry. It is commonly used in protein purification processes, such as chromatography and extraction. It is also employed in protein structure studies, as it facilitates unfolding and refolding of proteins, allowing researchers to analyze their characteristics and folding patterns.
Overall, guanidium chloride is an essential chemical reagent that enables scientists to manipulate proteins and extract valuable biomolecules efficiently. Its denaturing and chaotropic properties make it a versatile compound for a wide range of scientific and biochemical applications.
Common Misspellings for GUANIDIUM CHLORIDE
- fuanidium chloride
- vuanidium chloride
- buanidium chloride
- huanidium chloride
- yuanidium chloride
- tuanidium chloride
- gyanidium chloride
- ghanidium chloride
- gjanidium chloride
- gianidium chloride
- g8anidium chloride
- g7anidium chloride
- guznidium chloride
- gusnidium chloride
- guwnidium chloride
- guqnidium chloride
- guabidium chloride
- guamidium chloride
- guajidium chloride
- guahidium chloride
Etymology of GUANIDIUM CHLORIDE
The word "Guanidium" derives from "guanidine", which in turn comes from "guanine", a compound found in guano (bird feces) and fish scales. Guanine was first isolated from guano in 1844 and its structure was determined later in 1879. Guanidine, a chemical compound similar to guanine, was then synthesized by reacting guanine with ammonia. The suffix "-ium" signifies that it is a positively charged ion.
Chloride refers to the chemical element chlorine, which is derived from the Greek word "khloros" meaning "pale green" or "greenish yellow". Chloride is an anion (negatively charged ion) that forms when chlorine gains an electron. In the case of "Guanidium Chloride", the word "chloride" indicates that the compound is formed by combining guanidium with chlorine.
