Amino Acids and Functional Groups Quiz

Organic compounds that serve as building blocks for proteins, containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

The group of atoms attached to the alpha carbon in an amino acid, determining its unique properties.

The carbon atom in an amino acid to which both the amino and carboxyl groups are attached.

The functional group containing both the amino and carboxyl groups, found in all standard amino acids.

An amino acid with a secondary amino group, making it unique compared to other amino acids.

Non-superimposable mirror images of a chiral molecule.

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. They have different properties.

The specific spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule. It determines its properties.

A system to assign absolute configuration of a chiral molecule based on the stereochemistry of the 3-carbon aldose sugar glyceraldehyde.

A type of stereoisomer that has a non-superimposable mirror image.

A molecule that lacks a chiral center and does not have a non-superimposable mirror image.

A carbon atom bonded to four different substituents.

The specific spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule. It can be changed by rotation around bonds.

The absolute configuration of a molecule's four substituents bonded to a chiral carbon, determined by the position of the hydroxyl group in a Fischer projection. 'L' configuration has the hydroxyl group on the left, while 'D' configuration has it on the right.

A simple sugar molecule with three carbon atoms, used as a reference for determining the absolute configuration (D or L) of other chiral molecules.

A projection formula representing a molecule in 2D, with the carbon chain drawn vertically and the substituents projected either horizontally or vertically. Useful for visualizing the relative positions of atoms/groups.

A carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, making it asymmetric and leading to the existence of stereoisomers.

The chemical group responsible for the unique properties of an amino acid, attached to the alpha carbon.

The central carbon atom in an amino acid to which the amino group, carboxyl group, and R-group are attached.

Dividing observed rotation by path length and concentration; a unique property of a compound that describes its ability to rotate plane-polarized light.

A molecule that contains a chiral center and can rotate polarized light. It has a non-superimposable mirror image.

The standard value for a compound's ability to rotate plane-polarized light under specific conditions (concentration of 1 g/mL, path length of 1 decimeter).

A molecule that doesn't have a chiral center. It cannot rotate polarized light.

The set of 20 amino acids found in proteins, plus selenocysteine and pyrrolysine that are incorporated ribosomically into proteins.

Amino acids that are not found in proteins. They may have other functions in the body.

Amino acids with side chains containing hydroxyl groups (-OH), such as serine, threonine, and tyrosine.

Amino acids with side chains containing a sulfhydryl group (-SH), like cysteine.

Amino acids with side chains that are positively charged at neutral pH, such as lysine, arginine, and histidine.

Amino acids with side chains that are negatively charged at neutral pH, such as aspartate and glutamate.

Amino acids with aliphatic side chains, which are non-polar and hydrophobic, such as glycine, alanine, valine, and leucine.

Amino acids with aromatic side chains containing a ring structure, such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.

Amino acids with side chains containing carboxyl groups (-COOH), such as aspartate and glutamate.

Amino acids with side chains containing amide groups (-CONH2), such as asparagine and glutamine.