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Multiple Choice
The following aldehyde is obtained from the reaction between an amino acid and ninhydrin. Select the structure of the amino acid used initially.
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the structure of the aldehyde obtained from the reaction. The aldehyde shown has a benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (OH) and an aldehyde group (CHO) attached to it.
Understand the reaction between an amino acid and ninhydrin. Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids to produce a colored compound and an aldehyde. The aldehyde formed is typically derived from the side chain of the amino acid.
Analyze the structure of the aldehyde to determine the side chain of the amino acid. The aldehyde has a benzene ring with a hydroxyl group, indicating that the side chain of the amino acid must contain a similar structure.
Examine the provided amino acid structures to find one that matches the side chain of the aldehyde. Look for an amino acid with a benzene ring and a hydroxyl group in its side chain.
Select the amino acid that has a side chain structure matching the aldehyde. In this case, the amino acid with a phenolic side chain (a benzene ring with a hydroxyl group) is tyrosine.