question archive The substitution of which of the following functional groups would change the identity of an amino acid? The carboxylic acid The alpha cation The R group The amino group

The substitution of which of the following functional groups would change the identity of an amino acid? The carboxylic acid The alpha cation The R group The amino group

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The substitution of which of the following functional groups would change the identity of an amino acid?

The carboxylic acid

The alpha cation

The R group

The amino group

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The substitution of the R group is what changes the identity of the amino acid.

 

Every amino acid, regardless of its identity, has a basic structure. This consists of the central alpha carbon atom (the alpha cation), the amino group (NH2), the carboxylic acid group (COOH), as well a hydrogen atom. The R group (side chain) is what identifies the amino acid; each amino acid has a unique R group.