Question

How can amino acids be use to maintain the blood pH?

Answer 1

Answer:

See the explanation below. Thanks!

Explanation:

The structure of an amino acid allows it to act as both an acid and a base. An amino acid has this ability because at a certain $pH$ value (different for each amino acid) nearly all the amino acid molecules exist as zwitter-ions. If acid is added to a solution containing the zwitter-ion, the carboxylate group captures a hydrogen ($H^+$) ion, and the amino acid becomes positively charged. If base is added, ion removal of the $H^+$ ion from the amino group of the zwitter-ion produces a negatively charged amino acid. In both circumstances, the amino acid acts to maintain the pH of the system—that is, to remove the added acid $(H^+)$ or base $(OH^-)$ from solution.