Question

Svedberg unit is used for
A. Molecular weight.
B. Sedimentation coefficient.
C. Density.
D. Surface tension.

Answer 1

A Svedberg unit is a non-system international unit. The unit is named after Theodor Svedberg. He was a Swedish chemist, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in the year 1926 for his work on colloids and the invention of the ultracentrifuge. The Svedberg unit is represented as S or Sv.

Complete answer:
A Svedberg unit is a non-SI metric unit that is used to measure the sedimentation coefficient. This unit is represented by the symbol S or sometimes Sv. The Svedberg unit applies in the measurement of the size of particles based on its sedimentation rate under acceleration how fast a particle of a definite size and shape gets settled to the bottom of a solution. This unit is a measurement of time which is defined as exactly ${10^{ - 13}}$ seconds.
In the case of biomolecules, the sedimentation rate is the rate of travel of bio-molecules through a centrifuge tube and it is subjected to high g-force.
The Svedberg unit or S is an individual from the SI unit sievert or the non-SI unit Sverdrup. These two units are also represented by the symbol Sv.
The Svedberg unit is named after a Swedish chemist whose name was Theodor Svedberg. He won the Nobel Prize in the year 1926 in the field of chemistry for his renowned work on disperse systems, colloids. He has also invented the ultracentrifuge.
The Svedberg coefficient can be defined as a nonlinear function. The mass, density, and shape of a particle will be determined by its Svedberg value and this value depends on the frictional forces which retard its movement. It is related to the average cross-sectional area of the particle.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
The Svedberg unit is mainly used to measure the distinguished ribosomes. Ribosomes are made up of two complex subunits and each subunit contains rRNA and protein components. In prokaryotic cells, the subunits are named the 30S and 50S where S is their size in Svedberg units.

Note:
The Svedberg unit is a measurement of the sedimentation rate of a particle when it is centrifuged. It is represented by the symbol S. The Svedberg unit can be explained as a measure of time which is equal to the value of ${10^{ - 13}}$ seconds. The rate of sedimentation denotes the size of the molecule, a larger molecule bears a larger sedimentation coefficient. It is dependent on the volume, shape, and molecular mass of a particle.