Zwitterions are ionized species of

Options

A. Acidic amino acids
B. Basic amino acids
C. Netural amino acids
D. All of these

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Zwitterions**: Zwitterions are unique chemical compounds that contain both positive and negative charges. They are characterized by having a net charge of zero, meaning they are overall neutral despite having charged groups.

2. **Identifying the Source**: The most common examples of zwitterions are amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They contain both an amino group (-NH2) which can accept a proton (H+), and a carboxyl group (-COOH) which can donate a proton.

3. **Structure of Zwitterions**: In the zwitterionic form of an amino acid, the amino group becomes protonated (gains a positive charge), while the carboxyl group loses a proton (gains a negative charge). This results in a structure where the molecule has both a positive and a negative charge, but is overall neutral.

4. **Types of Amino Acids**: Amino acids can be classified as acidic, basic, or neutral based on the nature of their side chains (R groups). Regardless of their classification, when they are in solution at a certain pH (typically around physiological pH), they exist predominantly as zwitterions.

5. **Conclusion**: Since zwitterions can arise from acidic, basic, and neutral amino acids, the correct answer to the question "Zwitterions are ionized species of" is "all of these."

**Final Answer**: Zwitterions are ionized species of all types of amino acids: acidic, basic, and neutral.

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