The predominant form of histamine present in human blood is (pKa, Histidine=6.0)
(A)(see structure)✓ Correct
(B)(see structure)
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)
Answer: (A)
Solution
Blood is held near pH 7.4. Comparing each basic centre of histamine with its pKa through the Henderson-Hasselbalch idea, a centre is mostly protonated when the pH is below its pKa and mostly free when the pH is above it. The ring nitrogen, with pKa≈6.0, sits below 7.4 and so stays unprotonated, while the aliphatic side-chain nitrogen, with its higher pKa, is protonated as −NHX3X+. The form present in blood is therefore the mono-cation that carries its charge on the side-chain nitrogen while the ring is left neutral.
JEE Main · 2018 · 08 Apr 2018 · Offline · Single correct option