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Amino acids are organic compounds containing an amino group and an acidic group as substituents on the same carbon i.e., the α-carbon. Hence, they are called α-amino acids.

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The given statement mean that in alpha amino acids, the amine group (-NH2) and carboxylic group (-COOH) are attached to the same carbon atom i.e first carbon atom (also called alpha (α) carbon). This can be depicted by the following figure:
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amino acidsarebiologicallyimportantorganic commade from amine(-NH2) andcarboxylic acid(-COOH)ffunctional groups, along with aside- chainspecific to each amino acid. Thealpha carboninorganic chemistryrefers to the first carbon that attaches to afunctional group(the carbon is attached at the first, or alpha, position)

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These lines mean that amino acids are organic compound that contain an amino group and other substituents that is carboxlic acid and other functional groups. we find the amino group as well as the functional group attached to the first carbon only , we do not find the amino and the other functional groups attached to different carbon atoms so hence the first carbon is called as the alpha carbon where the amino group and other substituents are attached so they r called as alpha amino acids

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