OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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Which elements make up amino acids?

  1. Carbon, Hydrogen, and Phosphorus

  2. Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

  3. Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

  4. Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Sulfur

The correct answer is: Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of proteins, and they are composed of specific elements. The correct elements that make up all amino acids are carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbon forms the backbone of the amino acid structure, allowing for the formation of various functional groups. Nitrogen is a key component of the amine group (-NH2), which is essential for classifying a molecule as an amino acid. Hydrogen atoms are present to balance the chemical structure, while oxygen is found in the carboxyl group (-COOH) of the amino acid, which is crucial for its function and reactivity in biological systems. Together, these elements empower amino acids to link and form peptides and proteins, which are vital for numerous biological processes in all living organisms.