Lesson Plan

Lesson : Amino Acids

Aim :

To study amino acids in terms of their structure and nomenclature as well as their
amphoteric property.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• identify the structure of an α-amino acid

• explain the formation of zwitterions.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. the structure and acid/base nature of amines and carboxylic acids

2. the definitions of Brønsted acids and bases.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction.
(Ascertaining prior • Teacher to get students to recall the
knowledge and structures and acid/base properties of
introducing lesson amines and carboxylic acids.
topic for the day). • Teacher to point out lesson objective for
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 and 2 • Courseware

with the students.

Activity 1 : Nomenclature

Students get to view the structures of a

few α-amino acids and learn how to name
them.

Activity 2 : Acid-base properties

Students get to study how amino acids

can exist as dipolar ions or zwitterions in
the solid form. They also get to view how
a mixture of amino acids can be
separated by electrophoresis.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to read up reference materials • References

on their own.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet Answers

2. Acid-base properties

2.1 a. Neutral
b. Acidic
c. Neutral
d. Not an amino acid
e. Basic

2.2 a. O

CH3SCH2CH2CHCO−

NH3+

b. O

H3N+CHCO−

CH3  CH

CH3  CH2

2.3 a. NH2

HO CH2  C*H  COOH

b. OH

CH3C*HC*HCOOH

NH2

2.4 i. They have relatively high melting points.

ii. They are soluble in water and insoluble in organic solvents.

2.5 Amino acids exists as zwitterions.

2.6 a.
O O

2 CH2 — CH  C — OH + H2SO4 → CH2 — CH  C  OH SO4

 
NH2 NH3+ 2

Phenylalanine

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

 b.
O O

CH2 — CH  C — OH + NaOH → CH2 — CH  C  ONa + H2O

 
NH2 NH2

Phenylalanine

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 4