Final answer:
The false statement is D) Molecules 14 and 15 could be joined together to form a polypeptide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peptides are formed by the linkage of amino acids through peptide bonds. A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids, and molecules 14 and 15 do not represent amino acids. Therefore, they cannot be joined together to form a polypeptide. In contrast, molecules 2, 7, and 8 could indeed be joined together to form a short peptide because they represent amino acids, the building blocks of peptides and proteins. Each amino acid has an amino group (NH₂), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen atom (H), and a variable side chain (R group).
The structure of molecules 14 and 15 would need to include these essential components to be considered amino acids. Since the provided information does not describe molecules 14 and 15 as amino acids with the required functional groups, the statement that they could be joined together to form a polypeptide is false.
In summary, the false statement is based on the incorrect representation of molecules 14 and 15 as amino acids, which are necessary for the formation of polypeptides. The accurate understanding of molecular structures and their functional groups is crucial for making informed assessments about biochemical processes.