Some of the most important organic compounds in biochemistry are the α-amino acids, repres...

Some of the most important organic compounds in biochemistry are the α-amino acids, represented by the general formula shown.

(a) Alanine (R = methyl)

(b) Valine (R = isopropyl)

(c) Leucine (R = isobutyl)

(d) Isoleucine (R = sec-butyl)

(e) Serine (R = XCH2, where X is the functional group that characterizes alcohols)

(f) Cysteine (R = XCH2, where X is the functional group that characterizes thiols)

(g) Aspartic acid (R = XCH2, where X is the functional group that characterizes carboxylic acids)