Amino Acids Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Which two functional groups does an amino acid contain?

An amine group $\mathrm{-NH_2}$ and a carboxylic acid group –COOH.

What polymer is produced when amino acids react by condensation polymerisation?

A polypeptide.

What is produced when different amino acids are combined in the same polymer chain?

A protein.

Name the small molecule produced, as well as the polypeptide, when glycine polymerises.

Water ($\mathrm{H_2O}$).

True or false? A single amino acid can polymerise with molecules of itself because it has two different functional groups.

True. The $\mathrm{-NH_2}$ of one molecule reacts with the –COOH of the next.

What are the steps to deduce the repeating unit of a polypeptide from an amino acid?

e.g. glycine $\mathrm{H_2NCH_2COOH}$

1. Identify the $\mathrm{-NH_2}$ and –COOH groups on the monomer.
2. Join the $\mathrm{-NH_2}$ of one molecule to the –COOH of the next, losing $\mathrm{H_2O}$.
3. Repeating unit $\mathrm{-NH-CH_2-CO-}$, with bonds through the brackets and $n$ outside.