Organic molecules

Table of Contents

1. Organic molecules
2. Hydrocarbons
   1. Names and structures of hydrocarbons
3. Reactions of hydrocarbons
   1. Substitution reactions
   2. Addition reactions
4. Functional groups
   1. Identifying functional groups
5. Alcohols
   1. Structure of alcohols
   2. Physical properties of alcohols
6. Reactions of alcohols
   1. Oxidation reactions
   2. Carboxylic acids
   3. Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters
   4. Identification of alcohols
7. Nitrogen in organic molecules
   1. Amines
   2. Amino acids
8. Determination of formulae and structures
   1. Empirical formulae
   2. Molecular mass and formula

1. Additional resources:
   1. Glossary
   2. Print content

Amino acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The human body has 22 amino acids that are used for a variety of tasks. One of these is the creation of proteins, which the body builds by combining amino acids in a certain way. This task is guided by genetic information on our DNA, with the correct order of the amino acid units being vital for the effectiveness of the protein molecule being created.

Structure of amino acids

All amino acids contain two functional groups, -NH₂ and -COOH. Watch the animation below to see an example of an amino acid.

Text alternative to the amino acid video

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You will see from the video that the -NH₂ group is attached to the carbon atom next along from the -COOH group. This atom is called the α ( alpha ) carbon atom. Although there is a large range of possible amino acids, the important ones that are part of this course are all α amino acids. Below is an example of another α amino acid, aspartic acid.

Aspartic acid is actually a diprotic acid, but because the -NH₂ functional group is attached to one of the α carbon atoms, it is classified as an α amino acid.