ADA is a zwitterionic organic chemical buffering agent; one of Good's buffers.

It has a pKa of 6.6 with ΔpKa/°C of -0.011 and is most often prepared in 1 M NaOH where it has a solubility of 160 mg/mL.

ADA has been used in protein-free media for chicken embryo fibroblasts, as a chelating agent for H+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and for isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients.

Its effects on dog kidney Na+/K+-ATPase and rat brain GABA receptors have also been studied.

ADA does, however, alter coloring in bicinchoninic acid assays.