Amino acids, Amides and Chirality Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two functional groups of amino acids
A
Amine
Carboxylic acid
2
Q
Are alpha-amino acids chiral
A
Yes, one carbon has 4 different substituents
3
Q
What happens to amino acids in acidic conditions
A
Gains a proton on NH2 group
4
Q
What happens to amino acids in alkaline conditions
A
Loses a proton from COOH group
5
Q
What is the peptide linkage
A
-CONH-
6
Q
What property must a carbon atom have for the molecule to display optical isomerism
A
4 different substituents attached to one carbon atom
7
Q
What are the similarities and differences between two optical isomers
A
Same atoms and bonds
Rotate plane of polarisation by the same angle
Different in the way they rotate plane polarised light
8
Q
What word is used to describe optically active molecules
A
Chiral
