Amphiprotic/amphoteric (1 Viewer)

[dwayne95]

Hi!

Are these two terms the same? I vaguely remember my teacher explaining the difference, but I'm not sure which one to use.

Thanks!

 

[barbernator]

nope they are different. Amphiprotic means that a substance can either be a proton acceptor or proton donator. i.e. hydrogen sulfate, HSO4-. This can either accept a proton to become H2SO4, or donate a proton to become SO4 2-.
Amphoteric substances are substances that can be act as either an acid or a base i.e. Al2O3 + 6HCL --> 3 H2O + AlCl3 in this instance it is acting as a base in a neutralisation reaction.
Al2O3 + NaOH --> Na2Al2O4 + H2O, acting as an acid in a neutralisation reaction

 

[dwayne95]

Oh that makes sense.

So can amphoteric substances only work in neutralisation reactions?

 

[barbernator]

So can amphoteric substances only work in neutralisation reactions?

amphoteric substances just act as a base in some instances, and as an acid in other instances, there is no restriction upon what type of reactions they have. The example I used just happens to include 2 neutralisation reactions because it is the easiest one to remember

 

[dwayne95]

Okay. So could you say that all amphiprotic substances are amphoteric, but not the other way round?

 

[barbernator]

Okay. So could you say that all amphiprotic substances are amphoteric, but not the other way round?

yep, exactly remember to have equations so prove it