Electrometric Determinations of the Dissociation of Glycocoll and Simple Peptides1

1. The apparent acid and basic dissociation constants were determined potentiometrically by the methods of hydrolysis and of titration for the following ampholytes: Glycocoll, glycylglycocoll, alanylglycocoll, valylglycocoll, leucylglycocoll, methylleucylglycocoll, phenylalanylglycocoll and glycylglycylglycocoll. The constants were also determined in the presence of KCl and of K(2)SO(4) at equal ionic strength. 2. In general, the relative order of magnitude of the constants decreased as the number of carbon atoms between amino and carboxyl groups increased. An explanation of this is offered on the basis of theories of electronic structure. 3. The application of the modern concepts of solutions to the case of the ampholytic ions is discussed. The inadequacy of the present theories is pointed out. 4. The constants were found, in general, to be functions of the hydrogen ion activity and the ionic strength of the solutions. Apparent contradictions to the Debye-Hückel theory are pointed out and partially explained on the basis of specific ion effects.