Question

Assertion (A): All naturally occurring \(\alpha\)-amino acids except glycine are optically active. Reason (R): Most naturally occurring amino acids have L-configuration.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

The L-configuration of amino acids contributes to their optical activity, except for glycine, which is achiral.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Optical Activity of Amino Acids 

Step 1: Understanding optical activity of amino acids. All naturally occurring \(\alpha\)-amino acids, except for glycine, are optically active because they contain a chiral carbon atom (except glycine, which has two hydrogen atoms on the chiral center, making it achiral).

Step 2: L-configuration of amino acids. Most naturally occurring amino acids are in the L-configuration, which is why they are optically active (except glycine).

Step 3: Conclusion. Thus, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A), making option (A) the correct answer.