Asked by Diana Stevenson on Jun 03, 2024

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Which carbon atom of an amino acid is a stereoisomer in 19 out of 20 cases?

A) The carbon of the carboxylic acid
B) Any carbon on the organic group
C) The carbon between the carboxylic acid and the amine
D) None of the above

Stereosiomer

Molecules with the same molecular formula and sequence of bonded atoms, but they differ in the 3D orientation of their atoms in space.

Carboxylic Acid

Organic compounds that contain a carboxyl group (-COOH), which consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group.

  • Acquire knowledge about the structure and components of amino acids and their critical function in the production of proteins.
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ZK
Zybrea KnightJun 10, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
The carbon atom between the carboxylic acid and the amine group in an amino acid is known as the alpha (α) carbon. It is a stereocenter in all amino acids except glycine, making it a stereoisomer in 19 out of the 20 standard amino acids.