Question
Chemistry Question on Biomolecules
How do you explain the amphoteric behaviour of amino acids ?
Answer
In aqueous solution, the carboxyl group of an amino acid can lose a proton and the amino group can accept a proton to give a dipolar ion known as zwitter ion
Therefore, in zwitter ionic form, the amino acid can act both as an acid and as a base
Thus, amino acids show amphoteric behaviour.