Zwitterionien

Zwitterionien, also known as inner salts, are neutral molecules that possess both a positive and a negative electrical charge within their structure. These charges are localized on different atoms within the same molecule, resulting in an overall neutral charge. This phenomenon is particularly common in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In amino acids, the amino group (-NH2) can become positively charged (-NH3+) by accepting a proton, while the carboxyl group (-COOH) can become negatively charged (-COO-) by donating a proton. The specific pH at which a zwitterion exists is called its isoelectric point. At this pH, the net charge of the molecule is zero, and its solubility is typically at its minimum. Zwitterionic compounds exhibit unique physical and chemical properties due to the presence of these opposing charges. For example, they often have high melting points and are soluble in polar solvents like water, but insoluble in nonpolar solvents. The study of zwitterions is crucial in understanding the behavior of biomolecules, chemical reactions, and in the development of pharmaceuticals and other chemical products.