what happens to proteins dissolved in water when you heat it to 100 degrees

When you heat a protein dissolved in water to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), several processes take place:

1. Denaturation: Proteins have a specific three-dimensional structure that determines their function. Heating the protein disrupts the weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, that maintain this structure. Denaturation causes the protein to lose its shape, rendering it inactive or less functional.

2. Unfolding: Along with denaturation, the heat energy causes the protein to unfold or straighten out. This unfolding exposes the hydrophobic regions of the protein, which are usually buried inside the structure, and can lead to aggregation or clumping together of proteins.

3. Coagulation: Further heating can result in coagulation, where the unfolded proteins interact with each other and form larger, insoluble aggregates. This can be observed as the formation of a precipitate or the solidification of the solution.

Overall, the heating of proteins dissolved in water disrupts their structure, resulting in denaturation, unfolding, and potentially coagulation. The exact changes that occur depend on the specific protein and the conditions of heating.