Ncert Exercises & Solutions

14.16: How do you explain the amphoteric behaviour of amino acids?

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.

$O$
$∥ ∥$
$R - C H - C - O - H ⇌ R - C H - C - O^{-}$
$∥ |$
$: N H_{2} {}_{+}N H_{3}$
$Z w i t t e r i o n$

Therefore, in zwitter ionic form, the amino acid can act both as an acid and as a base.

Thus, amino acids show amphoteric behaviour.

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