Here's why:
* -NH2 is the amino group: The -NH2 group is called the amino group.
* Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins: Amino acids are the monomers that link together to form proteins.
* Every amino acid has an amino group: A defining characteristic of amino acids is the presence of both an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH).
Example:
Glycine, the simplest amino acid, has the following structure:
H
|
H-N-C-COOH
|
H
The -NH2 group is highlighted.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore other organic molecules with -NH2!