are amino acids really acids? Why are they called amino acids?

Answer 1

Amino acids contain both the amino group -NH2 and the carboxyl group ( acid) -COOH , hence amino acid.
See-http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/chemistry/bio/amino-acids_en.html
for some examples.

There are probably more complex explanations see Google (amino acids structure ?) , but this should be a start for someone with little knowledge of chemistry.
See also http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/aminoacids/acidbase.html
THE ACID-BASE BEHAVIOUR OF AMINO ACIDS for a complex A level answer.

Answer 2

Well, I am a chemist. They are acids, they are just weak acids, they are not Sulfuric acid or Hydrochloric acid which is a strong acid. Acids are known to chemists to have a positive charge to them which is caused by the charge of the Hydrogen atom. Bases, like Sodium Hydroxide have an OH group which gives them a negative charge. They are called "amino" acids because in the molecule there is a amine group and a carboxyl group. In Organic chemistry there is a hole subject on how to name molecules and explains why they are called the way they are. Amines contain Nitrogen and Carboxyl groups are carboxylic acids which is why it has the word acid at the end of the name. Check this website out, it explains it pretty good. Hope this helps.

Wee Man.

Answer 3

Amino acids are called "amino acids" because of the fact all of them contain an amino team (NH2) and a carboxyl team (COOH), that's acidic. because of the fact the 20 protein amino acids could be arranged in any order to make any style of polypeptides, their skill for considered one of those innovations in the sphere of medicine is wonderful. Their modern makes use of in animal feed and nutrition ingredients will proceed to enhance as there are not any substitutes for amino acids and their fee has been nicely shown.

Answer 4

Amino Acids are REALLY acids. They have an acid (-COOH) functional group, were the H (H+) dissociates. As there are 'millions' of molecules in a mole of acid, only a few of the H+'s leave their parent molecule - dissociates. In the vast majority of molecules the proton remains associated with its parent molecule. Thereby the acid is said to only partially dissociate.

They a named 'amino-acids' because in some part of the molecule there is an amino (-NH2) group.

Such a molecule is 4-aminobenzoic acid.

Answer 5

yes they are really acids... but they can also b basic (alkaline).. which means that in their compound... they have traits of those for acidity(-OH,-COOH).. n basicity as well... (-NH3) so they will come together to form proteins...

however, their pH level is dependent on how the molecules interact.. if they turn out to be less than 7.. then it's acidic... if it's more than 7. then it's alkaline.. there's 21 amino acids.. u can easily check them out with any search engines