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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements is true concerning lactic acid?
A
Lactic acid contains an aldehyde group.
B
Lactic acid contains a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group.
C
Lactic acid is an example of an amine.
D
Lactic acid is a ketone.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the functional groups present in lactic acid by examining its chemical structure. Lactic acid has the molecular formula C₃H₆O₃.
Recognize that lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, which means it contains both a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a carboxyl group (-COOH).
Understand that an aldehyde group is characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to a hydrogen atom, which is not present in lactic acid.
Note that an amine contains a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more alkyl or aryl groups, which is not a feature of lactic acid.
Recognize that a ketone contains a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms, which is also not present in lactic acid. Therefore, the statement that lactic acid contains a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group is true.