Identifying Nonpolar Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play critical roles in numerous biological processes. Each amino acid has a specific structure that includes an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique side chain (R group) that determines its properties. There are 20 standard amino acids, each varying in their side chain structure.

Understanding the properties of individual amino acids is vital for predicting the behavior of proteins in biochemical reactions. For example, some amino acids are polar and hydrophilic, while others are nonpolar and hydrophobic, influencing protein folding and function.

Consider the following four amino acids: glycine, alanine, serine, and phenylalanine. Identify the amino acid that is categorized as having a side chain that is nonpolar and primarily hydrophobic.