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Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA

Amino Acids and Zwitterions

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 2 and 3

Overview

The amino and carboxyl groups, how a zwitterion forms, and the form an amino acid takes in acidic and in alkaline solution.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is an amino acid, and what is a zwitterion?

Key term

What two types of functional groups are present in an amino acid?

Key term

What is a zwitterion?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What two types of functional groups are present in an amino acid?

    Model answer

    An acidic carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and a basic amino group (-NH₂)

  2. 2

    Why do amino acids exhibit both acidic and basic properties?

    Model answer

    Because they contain both an acidic carboxylic acid group and a basic amino group

  3. 3

    What is a zwitterion?

    Model answer

    A dipolar ion formed when the amino group is protonated to -NH₃⁺ and the carboxylic acid group is deprotonated to -COO⁻

  4. 4

    What is the overall charge on an amino acid in its zwitterionic form?

    Model answer

    Zero (neutral overall)

  5. 5

    In a zwitterion, what happens to the amino group?

    Model answer

    It becomes protonated to form -NH₃⁺

  6. 6

    In a zwitterion, what happens to the carboxylic acid group?

    Model answer

    It becomes deprotonated to form -COO⁻

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