Answer to Question #154554 in Organic Chemistry for Astrid Sweeney Fernandes

Question

what is zwitterion

Answer 1

A zwitterion is a molecule that has both positive and negative regions of charge.” In the solid-state, amino acids exist as dipolar ions called zwitterions. While discussing whether a substance is zwitterionic or not, the ph range in which the information is required must be specified (because a sufficiently alkaline solution will change the zwitterion to an anion, and a sufficiently acid solution will change it to a cation).

Some key Characteristics of Zwitterion are;

• They can be formed from compounds like ampholytes which contain both acid and base groups in their molecules.
• In this type of ion, the charged atoms are usually held together by one or more covalent bond
• Zwitterionic compounds have stable, separated unit electrical charges on atoms.
• These compounds contain quaternary ammonium cations.