The human body is said to contain approximately 50.0 grams of DNA in the entire body. If the number of nucleotides in one strand of DNA is approximately 3.0 x 10^6, and the average molar mass of a nucleotide is 327 g/mole, what is the average molar mass of an entire DNA double helix?
Where do I start with this?
To find the average molar mass of an entire DNA double helix, we need to break down the problem into smaller steps and calculate intermediate values before arriving at the final result. Here's how you can proceed:
Step 1: Calculate the molar mass of one strand of DNA.
- Given: Number of nucleotides in one strand = 3.0 x 10^6
- Given: Average molar mass of a nucleotide = 327 g/mole
To find the molar mass of one strand of DNA, multiply the number of nucleotides by the average molar mass of a nucleotide:
Molar mass of one strand of DNA = (3.0 x 10^6) * (327 g/mole)
Step 2: Calculate the molar mass of both strands (double helix) of DNA.
Since a DNA double helix consists of two strands, to find the molar mass of the entire double helix, multiply the molar mass of one strand by 2:
Molar mass of entire DNA double helix = 2 * (molar mass of one strand)
Step 3: Substitute the values into the equation and solve.
- Molar mass of one strand of DNA = (3.0 x 10^6) * (327 g/mole)
- Molar mass of entire DNA double helix = 2 * [(3.0 x 10^6) * (327 g/mole)]
- Calculate the result by performing the multiplication:
Molar mass of entire DNA double helix = 2 * (3.0 x 10^6) * (327 g/mole)
By following these steps, you can calculate the average molar mass of an entire DNA double helix.