Question

What is the following is a basic amino acid?

• A. Lysine
• B. Proline
• C. Alanine
• D. Aspartic acid

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Lysine

The correct option is A.

The explanation for the correct option:

1. There are two functional groups present in all amino acids, one being the carboxylic acid group and the second being an amine group.
2. The carboxylic acid group donates a proton behaving as acid and amine and has lone pair so it accepts a proton and hence behaves as a base.
3. Here, only lysine is the one that has one carboxylic group and two amine groups.

The explanation for incorrect options:

Option B:

Proline is a neutral amino acid.

Option C:

Alanine is a neutral and non-polar amino acid.

Option D:

Aspartic acid is an acidic amino acid.

Final answer: Lysine is a basic amino acid.