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A-Level Chemistry > Amino Acids - Nitrogen Compounds > Flashcards

Amino Acids - Nitrogen Compounds Flashcards

1
Q

What are amino acids?

A

Organic compounds containing amine + carboxylic acid functional group + side chain, which is specific to each amino acid

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2
Q

What is the general formula for amino acids?

A

RCH(NH2)COOH

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3
Q

How many amino acids is there?

A

20

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4
Q

How do you name amino acids?

A

Prefix = amino
Suffix = _anoic acid
Number carbon which NH2 is attached to

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5
Q

What is the name of CH3CH(NH2)COOH?

A

2 - amino propanoic acid

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6
Q

What is the name of C6H5CH2CH(NH2)COOH

A

2 - amino 3 - phenyl propanoic acid

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7
Q

What is the base group of an amino acid?

A

NH2

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8
Q

What is the acid group of an amino acid?

A

COOH

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9
Q

How is a zwitterion formed?

A

H from COOH is donated to NH2

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10
Q

What should the charge of a zwitterion be?

A

Neutral

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11
Q

When does a zwitterion form?

A

At isoelectric point

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12
Q

What is an isoelectric point?

A

pH at which an amino acid exists as a zwitterion

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13
Q

What happens to a zwitterion when pH increases

(H+ removed)?

A

H+ from NH3 is removed

Negative overall charge

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14
Q

What happens to a zwitterion when pH decreases (H+ donated)?

A

H+ donated to COO-

Positive overall charge

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15
Q

What is the isoelectric point affected by?

A

Different R groups

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16
Q

Draw zwitterion for alanine (CH3) and increase + decrease of pH

A

LOOK AT NOTES

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17
Q

Draw zwitterion for glutamic acid (CH2CH2COOH) and increase + decrease of pH

A

LOOK AT NOTES

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18
Q

Draw zwitterion for LYSINE ((CH2)4NH2) and increase + decrease of pH

A

LOOK AT NOTES

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19
Q

If you are increasing pH of a zwitterion that has COOH in its R group can you remove H+ from that as well?

A

YES

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20
Q

Which group can you only remove H+ from?

A

COOH

21
Q

If you are decreasing pH of a zwitterion that has NH2 in its R group can you donate H+ to it as well?

A

YES

22
Q

What happens when an amino acid reacts with an acid?

A

To NH2 to from NH3+

23
Q

What is produced when CH3CH(NH2)COOH + HCl?

A

CH3CH(NH3+)COOHCl-

24
Q

What happens when an amino acid reacts with an alkali?

A

Metal reacts with COOH to form COO-Na+

25
Q

What is produced when CH3CH(NH2)COOH + NaOH?

A

CH3CH(NH2)COO-Na+ + H2O

26
Q

What is the general formula when an amino acid + alcohol?

A

COOH part + alcohol ⇌ ester + H2O

27
Q

What happens when an amino acid reacts with an alcohol?

A

OH from amino acid removed
H from alcohol removed
Join together to form ester
H2O produced too

28
Q

What are the conditions needed for an amino acid reacting with an alcohol?

A

Heat
Strong acid catalyst - H2SO4
Reversible reaction

29
Q

What is the problem sometimes with using H2SO4 as a strong acid catalyst when reacting an amino acid with an alcohol?

A

Sometimes donates H+ to NH2

30
Q

What is produced when CH3CH(NH2)COOH + CH3OH?

A

CH3(NH2)COOCH3 + H2O

31
Q

What is needed for a cis/trans isomer?

A

To have H as one of the groups

32
Q

What is needed for a E/Z isomer?

A

C=C

2 different groups attached to each carbon

33
Q

What is a stereoisomer?

A

Isomer that has the same structural + molecular formula but a different spatial arrangement of atoms

34
Q

What is superimpose?

A

Place or lie over another and they are the exact same

35
Q

What does it mean if two molecules are identical?

A

You can superimpose them

BUT they are not isomers

36
Q

What does it mean if two molecules aren’t identical?

A

Cannot superimpose

So ARE isomers (stereoisomers)

37
Q

What is optical isomerism?

A

2 isomers you can’t superimpose

38
Q

What does an isomer have to have to be optical isomerism?

A

A carbon with 4 different groups attached

39
Q

What is a chiral centre?

A

A carbon with 4 different groups attached

40
Q

When identifying chiral centres what must you do?

A

Draw out displayed formula
Draw on all C’s and H’s
Identify with a star *

41
Q

What is called when one molecule has one chiral centre and they mirror image each other?

A

Enantiomers

42
Q

What is racemic mixture?

A

Both enantiomers in a mixture

43
Q

If a molecule has 1 chiral centre, how many isomers does it have?

A

2

44
Q

How do you find the other isomer of a molecule with one chiral centre?

A

Mirror image it

45
Q

If a molecule has 2 chiral centres, how may isomers does it have?

A

4

46
Q

How do you find the second isomer of an isomer with 2 chiral centres?

A

Mirror image the first

47
Q

How do you find the third isomer of an isomer with 2 chiral centres?

A

Draw mirror image of top half of isomer 1 but keep bottom part the same

48
Q

How do you find the fourth isomer of an isomer with 2 chiral centres?

A

Draw mirror image of bottom half of isomer 1 but keep top half the same

49
Q

How do you know it is an alpha amino acid?

A

COOH + NH2 attached to same carbon

A-Level Chemistry (26 decks)

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