Glycine is named for its sweet taste (glykos means sweet in Greek), and tyrosine is named as it was first obtained from cheese (tyros means cheese in Greek). Trivial names often reflect the properties or sources of the compounds.
What are the trivial names of glycine and tyrosine, and how do these names reflect the properties or sources of these amino acids?
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The trivial name for glycine is “glycine” itself. It signifies simplicity, as glycine is the smallest and simplest amino acid, with a hydrogen atom as its side chain. Tyrosine’s trivial name reflects its aromatic nature and is derived from “tyros,” meaning cheese in Greek. It indicates its discovery in casein, a milk protein. Tyrosine has a phenolic side chain, contributing to its aromaticity. The trivial names of these amino acids capture their structural characteristics or sources, providing insight into their properties and origins in the context of organic chemistry and biochemistry.