Above compounds have same molecular masses but they have different melting points, a-amino acids have higher melting points compared to the corresponding amines or carboxylic acids of comparable masses. This property is due to the presence of both carboxylic group (acidic) and amino group (basic) in the molecule. In aqueous solution, protons transfer from acidic group to amino (basic) group of amino acid forms a salt, which is a dipolar ion called – Zwitter ion.
