`alpha-` amino acids are

Options

A. acidic due to `-COOH` group and basic due to `-NH_(2)` group
B. acidic due to `-NH_(3)^(+)` group and basic due to `-COO^(-)` group.
C. neither acidic nor basic
D. none is true.

Answer

B

Explanation

Amino acis exist as Zwitterions in which acidic character is due to `-NH_(3)^(+)` and basic due to `-CO O^(-)` group. `H_(3)overset(+)Noverset(R)overset(|)CHCOOHoverset("acid")rarrH_(3)overset(+)NCoverset(R)overset(|)CHCOO^(-)overset("acid")rarrH_(2)Noverset(R)overset(|)CHCOO^(-)`