Amphoteric

[Joshua Han]

I understand that usually amohoteric compounds will contain elements somewhere between metal and nonmetal combined with oxide. Therefore I know how to identify one but I don’t understand how one can act as an acid and also a base? What situations make them act like an acid and what situation acts like a base.

[Brandon Ignacio 2J]

Hi, I believe that it would depend primarily on what the other reactants in the solution are. If there is a strong base, it would likely act as an acid. If there was a strong acid, it would likely act as a base. I believe other factors including pH of the solution, concentrations of the other reactants, or the molecule's structure may determine its behavior in a reaction. Overall, I believe it's a situational thing that is unique to each reaction.