Question

How is Corona virus and chemistry related .what role does Chemistry play in this corona virus.

Answer 1

Chemistry has very important role in understanding corona virus structure, its mode of action for infection, development of vaccine by biotechnologist, virologists and basic researchers.

The key role of chemistry in the episode of coronavirus can be understood by the following example-

corona virus have a protein-cutting enzyme, called the “main protease”that is essential for viral replication. The biochemist researchers examined X-ray crystal structures of the proteases and then made a series of α-ketoamide compounds that were predicted to fit snugly in the enzymes’ active sites, interfering with their function.

Another example where chemistry helps in understanding the mechanism of why soap is better for killing corona virus. The virus has a membrane of lipid molecules with studded proteins that help in virus infection. Soap molecule contain hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head. When we wash our hands with soap, the hydrophobic tail of soap wedge themselves into lipid membrane of virus and tear them apart. Also Soap traps all the viral residue in micelles which is wash away in water. Thus we know understood clearly that washing hand with soap is far more better than sanitizers in killing virus.