The carbohydrate alpha-amino acids, 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-heptonic acid and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glycero-L-gluco-heptonic acid, have been characterized by means of both spectral (IR) and thermal (TG and DSC) methods. The acid-base characteristics of the amino acids have been studied at 298 K and ionic strength I = 0.1 M in aqueous solution.