What is the Lewis structure of MSG?

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. In its Lewis structure, the glutamate ion features a central carbon chain with a carboxyl group (-COOH) on one end and an amino group (-NH2) on the other. The sodium ion (Na⁺) is typically represented outside the structure, as it does not form covalent bonds with the glutamate but rather associates ionically. The Lewis structure highlights the arrangement of atoms and the presence of lone pairs, particularly around the carboxyl and amino groups.