Zwitterion
Zwitterion
Zwitterion (/ˈzwɪtərˌaɪɒn/), also known as a dipolar ion, is a molecule with two or more functional groups, of which at least one has a positive and one has a negative electrical charge and the net charge of the entire molecule is zero.
Etymology
The term "Zwitterion" is derived from the German word "Zwitter", which means "hermaphrodite" or "hybrid", and the Greek word "ion", which means "going". This refers to the dual nature of these molecules, which carry both a positive and a negative charge.
Structure and Properties
Zwitterions contain an equal number of positively and negatively charged functional groups. Because of this, they have a net charge of zero. The most common type of zwitterion is the amino acid. In an aqueous solution, amino acids exist primarily as zwitterions.
Related Terms
- Amino Acid: Amino acids are organic compounds composed of amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups, along with a side chain (R group) specific to each amino acid. They are the building blocks of proteins and exist primarily as zwitterions in an aqueous solution.
- Functional Group: A functional group is a group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule. In a zwitterion, the functional groups carry a positive or negative charge.
- Ion: An ion is an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons. Zwitterions are a type of ion with a net charge of zero.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Zwitterion
- Wikipedia's article - Zwitterion
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