Chapter 24, Problem 106A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The similarities and differences in the structures of amino acids need to be interpreted.

Concept introduction: Amino acids are the smaller molecules that make up a protein. The molecules of amino acids are composed of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. Different amino acids are beneficial in serving the structural units of all proteins.

An amino acid is a compound that consists of two functional groups that are amino group $\left(-{\text{NH}}_{\text{2}}\right)$ and carboxyl group $\left(-\text{COOH}\right)$ along with hydrogen and a side group (R group).

All these groups are bonded covalently to each other.

Answer to Problem 106A

In different amino acids, the similarity between their structure is the presence of a carboxyl group, amino group, and hydrogen atom while the difference in the structures lies in the side chain group (R group).

Explanation of Solution

Amino acids are the smaller molecules that make up a protein. An amino acid is a compound that consists of two functional groups that are amino group and carboxyl group along with hydrogen and a side group (R group). All these groups are bonded covalently to each other.

The similarity in the structure of amino acids is the presence of a carboxyl group, amino group, hydrogen, and a side chain group.

The variability in the side chain group i.e., the R group makes the amino acid different from each other.

The structure of alanine and guanine is given below which shows the presence of three similar groups while the side chain group is different in both structures.

Conclusion

In amino acids, the similarity between their structure is the presence of a carboxyl group, amino group, and hydrogen atom while the difference in the structures lies in the side chain group (R group).