Glycine, an amino acid used by organisms to make proteins, is represented by the following molecular model. (a) Write its molecular formula.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the different types of atoms in the molecule. In glycine, you will find carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) atoms.
2. Step 2: Count the number of each type of atom in the molecule. For glycine, you will find 2 carbon atoms, 5 hydrogen atoms, 1 nitrogen atom, and 2 oxygen atoms.
3. Step 3: Write the molecular formula by listing the types of atoms followed by the number of each type of atom in subscript. If there is only one atom of a certain type, you do not need to write '1'.
4. Step 4: Following the above steps, the molecular formula for glycine is C2H5NO2.

Key Concepts

Amino Acids

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid contains a central carbon atom, an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain (R group) that determines the specific properties of the amino acid. Glycine is the simplest amino acid, with a hydrogen atom as its side chain.

Molecular Formula

A molecular formula represents the number and types of atoms in a molecule. It is expressed using chemical symbols and subscripts to indicate the quantity of each type of atom. For glycine, the molecular formula is derived from its structure, which includes two carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, one nitrogen atom, and two oxygen atoms.

Chemical Structure of Glycine

The chemical structure of glycine can be depicted as NH2-CH2-COOH, indicating its functional groups. The amino group (NH2) and carboxyl group (COOH) are essential for its classification as an amino acid. Understanding this structure is crucial for writing the correct molecular formula, which reflects the composition of the molecule.