zwitterionic compound A neutral compound hav-
ing electrical charges of opposite sign, delocalized or
not, on adjacent or nonadjacent atoms. Zwitterionic
compounds have no uncharged canonical representa-
tions. Sometimes referred to as inner salts, am-
pholytes, dipolar ions (a misnomer). For example:
H 3 N+CH 2 C(O)O–, glycine.
See alsoYLIDE.288 zwitterionic compound