Question detail
What functional groups are present in all amino acids?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
Question
- A. Amine and carboxylic acid groups
- B. Hydroxyl and carbonyl groups
- C. Carboxylic acid and ester groups
- D. Amine and aldehyde groups
Answer
Amine and carboxylic acid groups
Explanation
Amino acids are defined as molecules that contain both an amine group (-NH2) and a carboxylic acid group (-COOH), which are essential for their classification as amino acids.
Common mistake
Confusing Functional Groups
Students often describe amino acids without clearly identifying the presence of both amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups.
To fix this, remember that an amino acid contains both an amine group and a carboxylic acid group. For example, the general structure of an amino acid can be represented as R-CH(NH2)-COOH, where R represents the variable side chain. Clearly state both functional groups when describing amino acids.
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