An amino acid can exist as a ________, which is a dipolar ion that carries both positive and negative charge.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Amino acids possess both an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). At a certain pH range, the amino group picks up a hydrogen ion (H+) to become NH3+ and the carboxyl group loses a hydrogen ion to become COO-. The resulting ion carries both a positive and negative charge, making it a zwitterion.

An Amino Acid Can Exist as a ________, Which Is