amphiprotic

(adjective)

Being able to both donate and accept a proton, and thus being able to react both as an acid and a base; amphoteric.

Related Terms

Examples of amphiprotic in the following topics:

  • The Solubility of Amphoteric Metal Hydroxides

    • An amphiprotic substance can act as either a proton donor or a proton acceptor.
    • Since acids are proton donors while bases are proton acceptors, it therefore follows that all amphiprotic compounds are also amphoteric.
    • An example of an amphoteric compound that is not amphiprotic is ZnO, which can act as an acid even though it has no protons to donate.
    • An example of an amphoteric and amphiprotic substance is beryllium hydroxide (Be(OH)2):

  • Nitrogen Compounds

    • Liquid ammonia (boiling point 240 K) is amphiprotic (displaying either Brønsted-Lowry acidic or basic character) and forms ammonium and the less common amide ions (NH2−).