Question
Download Solution PDFAmino acid in zwitter ionic form show
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
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In Zwitter ionic form, amino acids show amphoteric behaviour as they react both with acids and bases.
When amino acids are in their zwitterionic form, they display amphoteric behavior. The term "amphoteric" refers to the capacity of a substance to act as both an acid and a base depending on the conditions of its environment.
Amino acids are organic molecules that contain both an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). In aqueous solution, at a certain pH known as the isoelectric point (pI), an amino acid exists predominantly in its zwitterionic form. This is because the amino group can accept a proton (H+), becoming positively charged (-NH3+), while the carboxyl group can release a proton, becoming negatively charged (-COO-). The molecule thus has both positive and negative charges at different sites but is overall neutral in charge. This form is known as a zwitterion.
The amphoteric nature of amino acids in their zwitterionic form is demonstrated by their ability to react both with acids and bases:
- Reaction with Acids: When an amino acid in its zwitterionic form is exposed to an acidic environment (excess H+ ions), it can accept a proton with its negatively charged carboxylate group (-COO-), converting back to its non-ionized carboxyl group (-COOH) while retaining the protonated amino group (-NH3+).
- Reaction with Bases: Conversely, in a basic environment (excess OH- ions), the base can accept the proton from the protonated amino group (-NH3+), leaving the amino group in its deprotonated (-NH2) state, and the carboxylate group remains as is (-COO-).
This ability to act as either an acid or a base, depending on the pH of the surrounding environment, is what characterizes the amphoteric behavior of amino acids in their zwitterionic form. It is crucial for various biological processes, including protein folding, enzyme activity, and the buffering capacity of amino acids in living organisms.
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