Multiple Choice
Which pair of amino acids can form hydrogen bonds between their R groups?
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3. Amino Acids
Amino Acid Groups
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Which of the following best describes the side group (R group) of the amino acid glycine?
A
A hydroxyl group (\(\ce{OH}\))
B
A single hydrogen atom (\(\ce{H}\))
C
A carboxyl group (\(\ce{COOH}\))
D
A methyl group (\(\ce{CH3}\))
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Recall the general structure of an amino acid, which consists of a central carbon atom (the alpha carbon) bonded to four groups: an amino group (
), a carboxyl group (
), a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain (R group).
Step 2: Understand that the R group determines the unique properties of each amino acid. For glycine, the simplest amino acid, the R group is a single hydrogen atom (
).
Step 3: Compare the given options to the structure of glycine. The hydroxyl group (
), carboxyl group (
), and methyl group (
) are not the R group of glycine.
Step 4: Recognize that the correct answer is the single hydrogen atom (
), which is the simplest possible R group and unique to glycine.
Step 5: Conclude that glycine is the only amino acid with a non-chiral alpha carbon because its R group is a single hydrogen atom, making it symmetric.
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