Final answer:
The amino acid produced after the reaction sequence involving propanoic acid and various reagents is alanine, which is an α-amino acid with the common name Alanine, represented by 'Ala' or 'A'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amino acid produced when propanoic acid is subjected to a sequence of reagents PBr3, Br2, H2O, and NH3 with heat is alanine. The reaction sequence involves a bromination step to convert the propanoic acid into 2-bromopropanoic acid, followed by hydrolysis to form 2-hydroxypropanoic acid. Subsequent ammonolysis under heating conditions replaces the hydroxyl group with an amino group, resulting in the formation of the α-amino acid, alanine.
The common name for the α-amino acid derived from propanoic acid is alanine, also abbreviated as Ala in three-letter form or A in one-letter form. Alanine is classified as a proteinogenic amino acid with a nonpolar side chain at neutral pH, according to its distinctive chemical properties.