Why are amino acids amphoteric in nature?

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Question

(C) Amino acids are organic compounds containing an amino group $(-NH_2)$ and a carboxyl group $(-COOH)$ attached to the same carbon atom,known as the

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Due to acidic carboxyl and basic amino groups.

Vedclass · Answer

(C) Amino acids are organic compounds containing an amino group $(-NH_2)$ and a carboxyl group $(-COOH)$ attached to the same carbon atom,known as the $\alpha$-carbon.The carboxyl group $(-COOH)$ acts as an acid because it can donate a proton $(H^+)$,while the amino group $(-NH_2)$ acts as a base because it can accept a proton $(H^+)$.Because amino acids possess both acidic and basic functional groups,they can react with both acids and bases,making them amphoteric in nature.This property allows them to exist as zwitterions at a specific $pH$ (isoelectric point).

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