Polar neutral amino acids, ionized forms

TABLE 16.5 Ionized Forms of Nonpolar and Polar Neutral Amino Acids... 

Normally, amino acids exist as dipolar ions. RCH(NH,+ iCOO-. in a neutral state, where both amino and carboxyl groups are ionized. The dipolar form, RCH(NH2)COOH may be considered, but the dipolar form predominates for the usual monoamino monocarboxylic acid and it is estimated that these forms occur 10s to 106 times more frequently than the non-polar forms. Amino acids decompose thermally at what might be considered a relatively high temperature (200-300°C). The compounds are practically insoluble in organic solvents, have low vapor pressure, and do not exhibit a precisely defined melting point. 

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