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Question

Comment on the Acidic and Basic nature of Amino Acids.


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Solution

  • Amino acids are organic compounds containing the basic amino groups(-NH2) and carboxyl groups (-COOH).

  • Since amino acids contain both amino and carboxylic groups, so when they are placed in an aqueous solution, amino acid exists as a dipolar ion (or as a zwitter ion).
  • A zwitterion can act as either an acid (which is a proton donor) or a base (which is a proton acceptor).
  • The substances that are having both an acidic and basic nature are amphoteric and are called, ampholytes meaning “amphoteric electrolytes".

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