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JEE Main levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 2 of 3bm192

Alanine has and . In an aqueous solution at pH 12, which statements are correct?

  1. AIts net charge is close to .
  2. BIn an electric field it migrates toward the anode.
  3. CIt exists mainly as .
  4. DIt exists mainly as the neutral zwitterion.

Answer: A, B, C

pH 12 is well above pKa2 (9.69), so the ammonium group is deprotonated and the carboxylate remains ionised: the species is the anion H2N-CH(CH3)-COO- with charge -1. Anions move toward the anode. The zwitterion dominates only between about pH 2.3 and 9.7.
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