How do you explain the amphoteric behaviour of amino acids?

Question:

How do you explain the amphoteric behaviour of amino acids?

Solution:

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.

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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