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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: asuri on February 25, 2015, 02:06:45 PM

Title: Amino acid side chain: why is an amino group basic and a hydroxyl group not?
Post by: asuri on February 25, 2015, 02:06:45 PM

Hi all

I don't really understand this... How come that if an amino group is attached to the amino acid side chain, like in arginine or lysine, the molecule is basic, but if an hydroxyl group is attached, like threonine, it is not basic?

How come the amino group can accept a H+ and a hydroxyl group cannot?

Thanks

Title: Re: Amino acid side chain: why is an amino group basic and a hydroxyl group not?
Post by: Arkcon on February 25, 2015, 05:18:40 PM

What sort of charged group do you get when an amino accepts a proton?  What sort of group would you get if a hydroxyl could accept a proton?  What other organic molecule that contains a hydroxy accepts protons?