At the PH Found in Cells About 7

Question

At the pH found in cells about 7.0), what happens to the carboxyl group on an amino acid?
A) It acts as a base and gains a proton, giving it a positive charge.
B) It is oxidized and tends to act as an electron acceptor in redox reactions.
C) It remains neutral, like water, and does not have a charge.
D) It acts as an acid and loses a proton, giving it a negative charge.

Accepted Answer

At a pH of around 7.0, which is common in cells, the carboxyl group (-COOH) of an amino acid acts as an acid and loses a proton (H+), resulting in a negatively charged carboxylate ion (-COO-).