pKa pI values on test day (thread for april, may, june test takers)

[MCATforsale1]

For those of you who have completed the 2015 MCAT, were you provided pKA and pI values, or did you have to memorize them?

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[Cotterpin]

I would say it's more important to know trends than to memorize exact numbers.

 

[MCATforsale1]

Would that mean that you weren't provided the numbers in the passages but still asked questions regarding them? I would also mention that this isn't breaking AAMC policies because we're not discussing exam content, just what to study.

 

[Cotterpin]

It depends on the question. I think probably if you needed an exact number, they would give one. Memorize everything about amino acids, but just know trends for other stuff.

 

[studentdocftw]

no. you don't need to know specific numbers. just know acidic AAs have lower pI..neutral have around 6..and basic have around 9-10. They wont ask you to explicitly give the pI of an AA...they may ask you to determine the charge on an AA at a certain pH. But you should be able to do that assuming u know the structure..and u know the approx pkas of the side chains..and carboxy/amino terminals. (2 & 9)