What is the term for the small molecule consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, and an R group?

What is the term for the small molecule consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, and an R group?

• A. Nucleotides
• B. Amino acids
• C. Monosaccharides
• D. Fatty acids

Answer: (B)

The term is amino acid. Each amino acid has a central alpha carbon bonded to four groups: an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a side chain represented by R. The R group is what gives each amino acid its unique properties, and at physiological pH the molecule often exists as a zwitterion with the amino group protonated and the carboxyl group deprotonated. This structure is distinct from nucleotides (nucleic acids), monosaccharides (sugars), and fatty acids (long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group but no amino group). Amino acids are the building blocks that link together to form proteins via peptide bonds.

The term is amino acid. Each amino acid has a central alpha carbon bonded to four groups: an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a side chain represented by R. The R group is what gives each amino acid its unique properties, and at physiological pH the molecule often exists as a zwitterion with the amino group protonated and the carboxyl group deprotonated. This structure is distinct from nucleotides (nucleic acids), monosaccharides (sugars), and fatty acids (long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group but no amino group). Amino acids are the building blocks that link together to form proteins via peptide bonds.