Question

How do you explain the amphoteric behaviour of amino acids?

Answer 1

The amphoteric behaviour of amino acids is explained when it is present in its aqueous state.In an aqueous solution,the carboxyl group of an amino acid can lose a proton and the amino group can accept a proton.This results in the formation of a moeity which has both posutive and negative charges and therefore is a dipolar ion.This is known as a zwitter ion.