When an amino acid's amine group picks up an excess hydrogen ion in a body fluid, it is acting as:
A)an acid
B)a base
C)both of these
D)neither of these, because there is no effect on pH

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an amino acid's amine group picks up an excess hydrogen ion in a body fluid, it is acting as a base because it is accepting a proton (H+) and reducing the concentration of hydrogen ions in the fluid, which increases pH. This is an example of the amine group acting as a proton acceptor, which is a characteristic of a base.

When an Amino Acid's Amine Group Picks Up an Excess