The functional groups in MSG are?

Carboxylic acid, carboxylate, primary amine

Is this right?

Yes, that is correct! MSG, or monosodium glutamate, contains three functional groups: carboxylic acid, carboxylate, and primary amine.

To determine the functional groups present in a molecule like MSG, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the atoms in the molecular formula: In the case of MSG, the molecular formula is C5H8NO4. This gives us information about the types and numbers of atoms present.

2. Analyze the molecule's structure: Study the structure of the molecule to identify the different groups of atoms and the bonds they form. In this case, the structure of MSG contains a carboxyl group (COOH), which is a carboxylic acid functional group. It also has a carboxylate group (COO-), which is a carboxylate functional group. Lastly, there is a primary amine group (NH2), which is an amine functional group.

By following these steps, you can determine the functional groups present in a given molecule like MSG.