Zwitterion

A zwitterion is a type of chemical compound that has both positive and negative electrical charges in different parts of the molecule.^[1]

Many zwitterions are tautomers of compounds that do not have these charges, and change between "neutral" and zwitterion forms based on the environment. Glycine, for example, is more stable as a zwitterion in a solution, but the "neutral" form as a pure gas.

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Sources

↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. (the "Gold Book") (2025). Online version: (2006–) "zwitterion". doi:10.1351/goldbook.Z06752

[1] IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. (the "Gold Book") (2025). Online version: (2006–) "zwitterion". doi:10.1351/goldbook.Z06752

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