Which of the following amino acid will give violet coloured complex with neutral ferric chloride solution?
- Threonine
- Serine
- Tyrosine
- Cysteine
Answer
(3) Tyrosine
Solution
Neutral FeCl3 gives a violet colour with a phenolic –OH group (test for phenols).
Tyrosine, HO-C6H4-CH2-CH(NH2)-COOH, has a phenolic –OH ⇒ violet complex.
Threonine and serine have alcoholic –OH and cysteine has –SH ⇒ no violet colour.
Answer: (3)