Amino Acids

Question 1

Chiral

Answer 1

mirror image of the amino acid is assymetrical. The two images cannot be superimposed on one another.

Question 2

Enantiomers

Answer 2

Non-superimposable mirror images that have optical activity and can rotate plane polarised light.

Question 3

Tetrahedral

Answer 3

They are sp3 hybridised molecules

Question 4

L isomers

Answer 4

only L amino acids constitute proteins in human,

Question 5

what is a chiral centre

Answer 5

The alpha carbon at the enter of the amino acid where chirality is achieved

Question 6

What four group can amino acids be grouped into?

Answer 6

1. non-polar uncharged
2. polar uncharged
3. acid or basic charged
4. aromatic containing benzene rings.

Question 7

How is the ionisation of an amino acid achieved?

Answer 7

Changing the pH

Question 8

What happens to an amino acid ionisation in an acidic pH?

Answer 8

amino and carboxyl group are protonated

Question 9

What happens to an amino acid in a neural pH?

Answer 9

positively charged amino group and negatively charged carboxyl group where the amino acid takes zwitter ionic form

Question 10

What happens to an amino acid in a basic pH?

Answer 10

amino group and carboxyl group both deprotonated.