why phenaylalanine is nonpolar and hydrophilic
1 answer
Phenylalanine is actually a nonpolar amino acid. It has a hydrophobic side chain consisting of a benzene ring, which does not readily dissolve in water. Although phenylalanine itself is nonpolar, the amino acid can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules through its polar amino and carboxyl groups, making it slightly hydrophilic. However, the overall hydrophobic nature of the benzene ring dominates its properties and classifies it as a nonpolar amino acid.