Introduction:

Aminoacids are molecules having both an amino (-NH2) group and a carboxylic (-COOH) group.
Aminoacids may be classified into neutral,acidic and basic aminoacid based on their acidic character.Ten
out of twenty naturally occurring aminoacids are essential aminoacid and the other ten are non-
essential aminoacid.

Explanation:

In neutral solution, an aminoacid will be present in the following species, which are in equilibrium.

If low pH, the solution is acidic and has lots of H +. If the pH is high, the solution is basic and has lots of
OH- ions which is looking to take protons away from the molecule.

The position of this equilibrium depends on the pH of the solution, in acidic solution the cationic form
predominating and in alkaline solution the anionic form predominating.

When an aminoacid is subjected to the action of electric field it can move either towards anode or
cathode, depending upon the nature of solution. In alkaline solution, the anion (II) predominates over
the cation(III) and there is an overall migration towards anode. Similarily in acidic solution a
predominance of the cation(II) and the aminoacid move towards the cathode.

At a particular pH value the ions (II) and (III) may exist in equal amounts and there would be no net
migration of an aminoacid in an electric field.The pH value at which a particular aminoacid does not
migrate to electric cathode and anode under the influence of electric field is called isoelectric point(pI)
of that aminoacid. Further at isoelectric point there is highest concentration of zwitter ion(I).