AIIMS 2019 Chemistry Zwitter Ions MCQ Question

In acidic medium, a zwitterion, which is a dipolar ion with both positive and negative charges, can undergo protonation, leading to the formation of a cationic form of the amino acid. This process typically involves the amino group (-NH₂) gaining a proton (H⁺) to become -NH₃⁺, while the carboxylate group (-COO⁻) remains unchanged. Other options are not applicable as they do not represent the transformation that occurs in acidic conditions, where protonation is the primary reaction affecting zwitterions. Understanding this conversion is crucial in biochemistry, as it influences the solubility and reactivity of amino acids in different pH environments.