question 6a.11

[Logan_reyes_3H]

Write the chemical equations of the two proton transfer equilibria that demonstrate the amphiprotic character of (a)
HCO3−; (b) HPO42−. Identify the conjugate acid–base pairs in each case.

What does amphiprotic mean and how does it differ from amphoteric?

[905994971]

The difference between amphoteric and amphiprotic is similar to the difference between a Lewis acid/base versus a Bronsted acid/base. Amphoteric means the substance can act as either an acid or a base depending on what it's reacting with. Amphiprotic means the substance can either lose or gain an electron depending on the substance it reacts with. This means that amphoteric is a more general term. In other words, all substances that are amphiprotic are amphoteric, but not vice versa. I'm not sure that this is a helpful connection but this is how I help differentiate:

Proton accept/donate --> Bronsted --> amphiPROtic

Act as an acid or base --> Lewis --> amphoteric