Draw the complete Lewis structure of (CH3)2CHCH(NH2)CO2H and identify all H-bond donors and all H-bond acceptors.

Draw the complete Lewis structure of (CH3)2CHCH(NH2)CO2H and identify all H-bond donors and all H-bond acceptors. Please explain what the parentheses mean.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

To draw the complete Lewis structure for (CH₃)₂CHCH(NH₂)CO₂H, let’s break it down:

Step 1: Identify the Components

  • (CH₃)₂CH: This is an isopropyl group. It’s composed of two methyl groups (CH₃) attached to a central carbon atom (CH).
  • NH₂: This represents an amine group, with nitrogen bonded to two hydrogens.
  • CO₂H: This is a carboxyl group, consisting of a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to a hydroxyl group (OH).

Step 2: Assemble the Structure

  1. The isopropyl group (CH₃)₂CH is attached to the carbon (C) in the NH₂ group.
  2. The NH₂ group is connected to the carboxyl group (CO₂H).
  3. The carboxyl group has a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH).

The structure looks like this:

      H2N
|
CH3-CH-CH-COOH
|
CH3

Step 3: Lewis Structure

  • The isopropyl group will have single bonds with each CH₃ group attached to the central carbon.
  • The amine group (NH₂) has nitrogen single-bonded to two hydrogens.
  • The carboxyl group is connected to the central carbon by a single bond, and the carbon is double-bonded to oxygen (C=O). The same carbon is single-bonded to the hydroxyl group (OH).

Step 4: Identify H-bond Donors and Acceptors

  • H-bond donors are atoms attached to a hydrogen atom, where the hydrogen is involved in a hydrogen bond. In this molecule, the NH₂ group and the OH group are potential hydrogen bond donors.
  • H-bond acceptors are atoms that can accept a hydrogen bond, usually due to their lone pairs. The NH₂ group (because nitrogen has a lone pair), and the O atoms in the CO₂H group are potential hydrogen bond acceptors.

The Parentheses

The parentheses (CH₃)₂ around the methyl groups indicate that the two CH₃ groups are both attached to the same carbon atom in the isopropyl group. This notation avoids writing the full structure repeatedly and simplifies the chemical representation.

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