Amino group
Amino Group
The Amino Group (pronunciation: /əˈmiːnoʊ ɡruːp/) is a functional group that consists of a nitrogen atom attached by single bonds to hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, aryl groups, or a combination of these three. An organic compound that contains an amino group is called an amine.
Etymology
The term "amino group" comes from the word "amine," which is derived from the word "ammonia." The word "ammonia" itself comes from the name of the ancient Egyptian god, Amun, who was also known as Jupiter Ammon in Roman mythology. The term "amino" is of Greek origin, meaning "nitrogen."
Structure and Properties
An amino group (-NH2) is made up of one nitrogen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The nitrogen atom in an amino group is trivalent, meaning it has three bonds. The nitrogen atom is also capable of donating a pair of electrons, making the amino group a Lewis base. This property is crucial in many biological processes, particularly in protein structure and function.
Related Terms
- Amine: An organic compound that contains an amino group.
- Amide: A compound that contains a carbonyl group (C=O) and an amino group (NH2) that are attached to the same carbon atom.
- Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order.
- Peptide bond: The chemical bond formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amino group
- Wikipedia's article - Amino group
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