Which one of the following statements is correct ?
(A)All amino acids except lysine are optically active
(B)All amino acids are optically active
(C)All amino acids except glycine are optically active✓ Correct
(D)All amino acids except glutamic acid are optically active
Answer: (C)
Solution
Optical activity needs a carbon bonded to four different groups. In the general amino acid H2N−CHR−COOH the central carbon carries an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen and the side chain R — four different groups — so it is chiral. The one exception is glycine, where R=H leaves the central carbon with two hydrogens; it is not chiral and so is optically inactive. Every amino acid except glycine is therefore optically active.
JEE Main · 2012 · 29 Apr 2012 · Offline · Single correct option