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Question

All statements about amino acids are true except

A
they are also called substituted methanes
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B
alanine is the simplest amino acid
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C
they can be basic, acidic or neutral in nature
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D
condensation of alpha-amino acids form proteins
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Solution

The correct option is B alanine is the simplest amino acid
In a typical amino acid, four substituent groups are attached to the valency position of the alpha carbon atom. The substituent groups include a carboxylic group, an amino group, a hydrogen atom and a variable R group. The structure of amino acids looks as if four hydrogen atoms (H-atom) in methane (CH4) are replaced by the substituent groups. Hence, amino acids are also known as substituted methanes.

Glycine is the simplest amino acid. The R group in glycine consists of a hydrogen atom while in alanine it consists of a methyl (CH3) group.

Based on the number of amino and carboxyl groups, they are classified as acidic, basic or neutral.
Carboxyl group is responsible for acidic nature while the amino group is responsible for basic nature.

Neutral amino acids such as glycine and valine have one amino group and one carboxyl group, i.e., equal numbers of the acidic carboxyl groups and basic amino groups.

Acidic amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid have two carboxylic groups and one amino group, i.e., more acidic carboxylic groups than basic amino groups, which gives it a net acidic property.

Basic amino acids such as lysine, arginine and histidine possess two amino and one carboxylic group, i.e., more basic amino groups than acidic carboxylic groups, which gives it a net basic property.

Amino acids are also called ⍺-amino acids because carboxylic group, the amino group and R-group are attached to the ⍺ carbon. ⍺ carbon is the first carbon atom that has a functional group attached to it.

Amino acids join together via the formation of peptide bonds that involve the removal of water molecules. Hence, proteins are called condensation polymers of ⍺- amino acids. Condensation reactions are those that combine two reactants with a loss of a small molecule, in this case, the water molecule.


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