Amino Acids

Question 1

Amino acids are chiral which gives them what property?

Answer 1

They are optically active

Question 2

Which amino acid is not optically active?

Answer 2

Glycine

Question 3

Amino acids have an NH2 group and a COOH group. What property does this give them?

Answer 3

They can act as a base and an acid

Question 4

HOOCCH2NH2 + HCl –> _______? Is glycine exhibiting acid or base properties?

Answer 4

HOOCCH2NH2 + HCl –> HOOCCH2NH3+Cl-

Base

Question 5

HOOCCH2NH2 + NaOH –> ______? Is glycine exhibiting acidic or basic properties?

Answer 5

Na+OOCCH2NH2 + H2O

Acid

Question 6

What is a zwitterion?

Answer 6

An ion with a positive charge and a negative charge which is overall neutral

Question 7

How are peptides formed?

Answer 7

Can form via an amide or peptide bond between 2 amino acids

Question 8

Why would we break down a protein?

Answer 8

To tell us which amino acids are in the polypeptide chain

Question 9

This type of protein has parallel polypeptide chains that form long fibres. What type of protein is it?

Answer 9

Fibrous