LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Amino acids have amino (−NH2) group, basic in nature and accepts a proton and COOH group loses a proton forming a dipolar ion, called the Zwitter ion . In this form, amino acids behave both as acids and bases so they are amphoteric in nature.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hence they behave as acids in an alkaline medium and bases in an acidic medium. So, amino acids are amphoteric.

Detailed explanation-3: -An amphiprotic molecule (or ion) can either donate or accept a proton, thus acting either as an acid or a base. Water, amino acids, hydrogencarbonate ion (or bicarbonate ion) HCO−3, dihydrogen phosphate ion H 2PO−4, and hydrogensulfate ion (or bisulfate ion) HSO−4 are common examples of amphiprotic species.

Detailed explanation-4: -The term amphoteric refers to a condition where a molecule such as protein, peptide, amino acid is capable of having a positive charge, negative charge, or zero net charge depending on solvent conditions.

Detailed explanation-5: -Zwitterions in simple amino acid solutions An amino acid has both a basic amine group and an acidic carboxylic acid group. There is an internal transfer of a hydrogen ion from the-COOH group to the-NH2 group to leave an ion with both a negative charge and a positive charge. This is called a zwitterion.