Absolute configuration at the α position.What Does the MCAT Website Have to Say?īeyond the basics, the AAMC Content Guide indicates that you should know: For instance, nonpolar amino acids mainly consist of hydrocarbons. If applicable, you should know the side chain’s pKa (which, in general terms, is a value that indicates how strong or weak an acid is).īeing familiar with the structure of an amino acid can help you determine some of its properties.
You should also know key properties, such as if an amino acid, depending on its side chain, is polar (aka hydrophilic) or nonpolar (aka hydrophobic) and basic or acidic.