A neutral compound having electrical charges of opposite sign, delocalized or not on adjacent or nonadjacent atoms.
Zwitterionic compounds have no uncharged canonical representations. Sometimes referred to as inner salts, ampholytes, dipolar ions (a misnomer).
For example: H3N+CH2C(=O)O-, glycine.
See also ylide.
zwitterionic compounds / zwitterions: Neutral compounds having formal unit electrical charges of opposite sign.
Some chemists restrict the term to compounds with the charges on non-adjacent atoms. Sometimes referred to as inner salts, dipolar ions (a misnomer).
See betaines, dipolar compounds, ylides. E.g. H3N+CH2C(=O) O ammonioacetate (glycine), (CH3)3N+-O- trimethylamine oxide
