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Draw the general structure of an amino acid - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 5
Draw the general structure of an amino acid. The general structure of an amino acid consists of a central carbon atom (C) to which an amine group (–NH₂), a carboxy... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Draw the general structure of an amino acid - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
General Structure of an Amino Acid
Answer
The general structure consists of a central carbon atom bonded to a:
- Amine Group (–NH₂): This group is responsible for the basic properties of the amino acid.
- Carboxyl Group (–COOH): This group gives amino acids their acidic character.
- Hydrogen Atom (–H): A single hydrogen atom is also attached to the central carbon.
- R Group (Side Chain): The side chain varies between different amino acids and dictates the properties and identity of the amino acid.