Question

Amino acids are classified as acidic, basic or neutral depending upon the relative number of amino and carboxyl groups in their molecule. Which of the following are acidic?

(i)

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{(CH3)2CH - CH - COOH}\\
\phantom{..}|\\
\phantom{.....}\ce{NH2}
\end{array}\]

(ii)

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{HOOC - CH2 - CH2 - CH - COOH}\\
\phantom{............}|\\
\phantom{...............}\ce{NH2}
\end{array}\]

(iii)

\[\ce{H2N - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - COOH}\]

(iv)

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{HOOC - CH2 - CH - COOH}\\
\phantom{.....}|\\
\phantom{........}\ce{NH2}
\end{array}\]

Answer 1

(ii)

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{HOOC - CH2 - CH2 - CH - COOH}\\
\phantom{............}|\\
\phantom{...............}\ce{NH2}
\end{array}\]

(iv)

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{HOOC - CH2 - CH - COOH}\\
\phantom{.....}|\\
\phantom{........}\ce{NH2}
\end{array}\]

Explanation:

Acidic amino acids are divided into two groups, one –COOH group against the other –NH₂ group. As result, the acidic amino acids (ii) and (iv) are the only ones among the supplied structures.