4.7.3.3 Amino acids

Question 1

What are amino acids?

Answer 1

• Amino acids have two different functional groups in a molecule
• Amino acids react by condensation polymerisation to produce polypeptides

Question 2

Give an example.

Answer 2

• Glycine is H2NCH3COOH and polymerises to produce the polypeptide:
  (- HNCH2CO -)n and nH2O

Question 3

What can different amino acids produce?

Answer 3

• Different amino acids can be combined in the same chain to produce proteins