Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
formal unit charges of opposite sign
English answer:
If it’s the language and not the chemistry that you’re having problems with…
Added to glossary by
Fathy Shehatto
Oct 9, 2010 15:07
13 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
formal unit charges of opposite sign
English
Law/Patents
Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng
pharmaceutical
A zwitterion or zwitterionic compound is a neutral compound that has formal unit charges of opposite sign.
Any explanation please?
Any explanation please?
Responses
3 | If it’s the language and not the chemistry that you’re having problems with… | Cilian O'Tuama |
3 | (please see below) | Marga Shaw |
References
Wiki explains | meirs |
Responses
10 hrs
Selected
If it’s the language and not the chemistry that you’re having problems with…
By definition, every "ion" has an electrical charge, whether positive or negative. Positive ions are called cations, negative ones anions.
A zwitter"ion" is like a combination of both, where the positives cancel the negatives (opposite signs). The overall charge is zero (neutral), but different regions of the molecule still carry "formal" charges.
i.e. "is a neutral compound that has formal unit charges of opposite sign"
A zwitter"ion" is like a combination of both, where the positives cancel the negatives (opposite signs). The overall charge is zero (neutral), but different regions of the molecule still carry "formal" charges.
i.e. "is a neutral compound that has formal unit charges of opposite sign"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you"
1 hr
(please see below)
A zwitterion is a molecule with regions of a formal positive and negative charge. This is for example the usual state of polypeptides at neutral pH in solution, with -NH3+and -COOH- terminal groups.
Definition:
A zwitterion is a dipolar ion, i.e. an ion that has both positive and negative regions of charge; amino acids for example, occur as zwitterions in neutral solution, and the pH value at which the zwitterion state is at a maximum is the isoelectirc point.
(Dorland's Medical Dictionary (hardback))
Hence. in a zwitterion a "charge of opposite sign" is a charge which is both positive and negative.
In chemistry, a formal charge (FC) is the charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that electrons in a chemical bond are shared equally between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.
http://www.answers.com/topic/formal-charge-1
Definition:
A zwitterion is a dipolar ion, i.e. an ion that has both positive and negative regions of charge; amino acids for example, occur as zwitterions in neutral solution, and the pH value at which the zwitterion state is at a maximum is the isoelectirc point.
(Dorland's Medical Dictionary (hardback))
Hence. in a zwitterion a "charge of opposite sign" is a charge which is both positive and negative.
In chemistry, a formal charge (FC) is the charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that electrons in a chemical bond are shared equally between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.
http://www.answers.com/topic/formal-charge-1
Note from asker:
Thank you very much for your efforts |
Reference comments
2 mins
Something went wrong...