At the pH found in cells (about 7.0),what happens to the carboxyl group on an amino acid?
A)It acts as a base and gains a proton,giving it a positive charge.
B)It acts as an acid and loses a proton,giving it a negative charge.
C)It is oxidized,and tends to act as an electron acceptor in redox reactions.
D)It remains neutral,like water,and does not have a charge.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At a pH of 7.0, the carboxyl (-COOH) group on an amino acid would act as an acid and donate a proton (H+), giving it a negative charge (-COO-). This is because the pH is below the pKa of the carboxyl group, which is around 2.0. At a pH below the pKa, the group is protonated and acts as an acid. At a pH above the pKa, the group is deprotonated and acts as a base.

At the PH Found in Cells (About 7