Practice question

Polyacrylamide gel pore diameter is inversely proportional to total acrylamide concentration and crosslinker percentage, because higher monomer density creates denser polymer network. Lower percentage yields fewer chains and larger interstitial spaces, permitting relatively unhindered migration of high-molecular-weight proteins. Five percent gel offers very open matrix suitable for resolving proteins above 200 kilodaltons, whereas 10 percent, 12 percent and 15 percent produce progressively tighter networks for medium to low molecular weight separation. Therefore, among given options, 5 percent provides largest effective pore size and lowest sieving effect, inversely related to concentration.