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Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory
Chapter 11, Problem 71

Consider the structure of the amino acid alanine. Indicate the hybridization about each interior atom.
Structural diagram of alanine showing atom hybridization for each interior atom.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate the bonding requirements of atoms in a molecule. In the case of alanine, understanding the hybridization of each interior atom helps predict the geometry and bond angles around those atoms, which is crucial for understanding the molecule's structure and reactivity.
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Amino Acids Structure

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid has a central carbon atom (the alpha carbon) bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group (side chain). The specific structure of alanine, with its methyl side chain, influences its properties and interactions in biological systems.
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Bond Angles and Molecular Geometry

Bond angles and molecular geometry are determined by the arrangement of electron pairs around a central atom, influenced by hybridization. For alanine, the hybridization of the carbon atoms leads to specific bond angles (e.g., approximately 109.5° for tetrahedral geometry) that dictate the overall shape of the molecule, affecting its function and interactions in biological contexts.
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