Skip to main content
Chemistry

Return to Question

Change title, remove "question" from title of question
Source Link
Klaus-Dieter Warzecha
Klaus-Dieter Warzecha
  • 44.2k
  • 8
  • 104
  • 166

"Amino Acid", question about name Why are amino acids named amino acids?

When learning about amino acids, the primary things that were pointed out were that they had an amino group and a carboxyl group, and side chain that varies from one to the other. 

The amino group of one can attach to the carboxyl group of another, making a peptide bond and water. 

Both groups are clearly important, but what is it about the amino group that that's what goes in the name "amino acid"? Is the amino group in some way more important? Is it just something about the way/order in which they were discovered/identified that the name just came about? 

Why amino acid? Not carboxyl acid, or some mix of the two, or something else?

"Amino Acid", question about name

When learning about amino acids, the primary things that were pointed out were that they had an amino group and a carboxyl group, and side chain that varies from one to the other. The amino group of one can attach to the carboxyl group of another, making a peptide bond and water. Both groups are clearly important, but what is it about the amino group that that's what goes in the name "amino acid"? Is the amino group in some way more important? Is it just something about the way/order in which they were discovered/identified that the name just came about? Why amino acid? Not carboxyl acid, or some mix of the two, or something else?

Why are amino acids named amino acids?

When learning about amino acids, the primary things that were pointed out were that they had an amino group and a carboxyl group, and side chain that varies from one to the other. 

The amino group of one can attach to the carboxyl group of another, making a peptide bond and water. 

Both groups are clearly important, but what is it about the amino group that that's what goes in the name "amino acid"? Is the amino group in some way more important? Is it just something about the way/order in which they were discovered/identified that the name just came about? 

Why amino acid? Not carboxyl acid, or some mix of the two, or something else?

edited tags
Link
Jan
Jan
  • 68.7k
  • 12
  • 205
  • 389
Tweeted twitter.com/#!/StackChemistry/status/612383032734023682
Source Link
Caesium-133
Caesium-133
  • 749
  • 5
  • 17
  • 29

"Amino Acid", question about name

When learning about amino acids, the primary things that were pointed out were that they had an amino group and a carboxyl group, and side chain that varies from one to the other. The amino group of one can attach to the carboxyl group of another, making a peptide bond and water. Both groups are clearly important, but what is it about the amino group that that's what goes in the name "amino acid"? Is the amino group in some way more important? Is it just something about the way/order in which they were discovered/identified that the name just came about? Why amino acid? Not carboxyl acid, or some mix of the two, or something else?