Sometimes these are also considered members of the immediate family, depending on an individual's specific relationship. In most societies, the family is the principal institution for the socialization of children.
Nucleic acids also typically contain phosphorous, and nitrogen plays an important structural role in nucleic acids and proteins. The proteins, being made up a diverse set of amino acids, have, in addition to carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, the elements sulfur and selenium. It is incredible the complex array of macromolecules that can be built starting with these simple elements. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
All four compounds in the table are roughly the same size, and all have moderate to excellent water solubility. The first two are simple carboxylic acids, and the third is an amino alcohol. All three compounds are soluble in organic solvents (e.g. ether) and have relatively low melting points. The carboxylic acids have pKa's near 4.5, and the conjugate acid of the amine has a pKa of 10. The simple amino acid alanine is the last entry. By contrast, it is very high melting (with decomposition), insoluble in organic solvents, and a million times weaker as an acid than ordinary carboxylic acids.