Question

Amino acids can show amphoteric behaviour.

(a) True

(b) False

The question was posed to me during an interview for a job.

Enquiry is from Biomolecules in chapter Biomolecules of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) True

For explanation I would say: In an aqueous solution of amino acid, COOH loses a proton and NH2 accepts a proton, giving rise to a dipolar zwitter ion. This is neutral but contains both positive and negative terminals. In this form, amino acids react both with acids and bases, and hence show amphoteric behaviour.