Table of Contents
How to Understand Zwitterion?
A zwitterion, also called a dipolar ion, is an electrically neutral molecule with two or more polar groups separated by a nonpolar group. The molecule has a net charge of zero because the positive and negative charges balance each other out. The polarity of the groups determines the molecule’s polarity and the direction of the dipole moment.
Zwitterion
A zwitterion is an ion with two different charges, typically exhibited by amino acids, which can occur in either a zwitterionic or anionic form. In the zwitterionic form, the molecule has a net neutral charge, because the positive and negative charges balanced. In the anionic form, the molecule has a net negative charge, because the negative charges balanced.
Characteristics of Zwitterion
Zwitterion is an ion with a net neutral electrical charge. It formed when a molecule contains both a positive and a negative group. The positive group called the cation and the negative group called the anion.
Isoelectric Point
The isoelectric point (pI) of a molecule is the pH at which the molecule has a net charge of zero. Point is a measure of the molecule’s net charge, which is determined by the relative abundance of the different charges on the molecule’s atoms. The isoelectric point can used to predict the molecule’s solubility in water. A molecule with a net charge of zero is more soluble in water than a molecule with a net charge of positive or negative one.
Calculation of pH value
The pH value is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It calculated by subtracting the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration from the logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration.
The pH value is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It calculated by subtracting the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration from the logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration.
pH = -log [H+] – log [OH-]
Applications of Zwitterion
- The most common applications of zwitterion are in the fields of biochemistry and pharmaceuticals.
- Zwitterions are often used as buffer solutions, because they can resist changes in pH. This makes them useful for stabilizing proteins and other biological molecules.
- Zwitterions also used in the manufacture of certain pharmaceuticals, because they can help to stabilize the active ingredients.
