Amino acids are amphoteric in nature. Explain.

Explanation

Amides behave both as weak acid as well as weak base and thus show amphoteric character. This can be proved by the following reactions.
Acetamide (as base) reacts with hydrochloric acid to form salt
`underset("Acetamide")(CH_(3)-overset(O)overset(||)(C)-NH_(2))+HCl tounderset("Acetamide hydrochloride")(CH_(3)-overset(O)overset(||)(C)-overset(+)(NH_(3))Cl^(-))`
Acetamide (as acid) reacts with sodium to form sodium salt and hydrogen gas is liberated.
`underset("Acetamide")(2CH_(3)-overset(O)overset(||)(C)-NH_(2))+Natounderset("Sodium acetamide")(2CH_(3)-overset(O)overset(||)(C)-overset(+)(NH)Na)+H_(2)`