Question

What is the chemical composition of proteins?

Answer 1

Proteins are organic compounds which are polymers of amino acids.

Explanation:

There are $20$ different amino acids which make up proteins. Each amino acid consists of a central carbon. The central carbon is bonded to an amine group $\left(N{H}_2\right)$, a carboxyl group $\left(COOH\right)$, a hydrogen atom and an $R$ group.

Amino acids can be linked together when the amine group of one amino acid is bonded to the carboxyl group of a different amino acid. The $COOH$ donates an OH group and the $N{H}_2$ donates a $H$. The $OH$ and $H$ come together to form a water molecule, so this process is called dehydration synthesis - water is removed to form something new. The bond which holds the amino acids together is called a polypeptide.