Amphiprotic vs. Amphoteric

[Nicole Jakiel 4F]

What is the difference between amphiprotic and amphoteric, and how do you determine if something is amphiprotic or amphoteric?

[Zenita Leang 2K]

Amphiprotic is a compound that can both donate or accept a hydrogen ion (aka a proton). Amphoteric means a compound can act as either an acid or a base. Amphiprotic refers specifically to its ability to accept and donate protons whereas amphoteric refers to whether a compound can or cannot react with another base or acid.

[Richard Ku 4H]

Amphiprotic means it is able to donate or accept electrons, where amphoteric means it is able to act as either an acid or base.

[Claudia Luong 4K]

Amphiprotic substances can accept and donate protons, amphoteric substances can act as both an acid and a base. All amphiprotic compounds are amphoteric. A clue to determine if a substance is amphoteric is to first check if there are hydrogens/protons to donate in the substance. If not, the substance can't act as an acid and therefore it is not be amphoteric.

[allisoncarr1i]

Amphiprotic substances can accept and donate protons, amphoteric substances can act as both an acid and a base. All amphiprotic compounds are amphoteric. A clue to determine if a substance is amphoteric is to first check if there are hydrogens/protons to donate in the substance. If not, the substance can't act as an acid and therefore it is not be amphoteric.

Does it work the other way around, as in are all amphoteric compounds amphiprotic?

[Claudia Luong 4K]

No, while all amphiprotic substances are amphoteric, not all amphoteric substances are amphiprotic.

[Hanlin Zhu 4G]

Not all Amphoteric substances are amphiprotic. For example, Al2O3 is amphoteric but not amphiprotic.

[danicatran4]

I believe not all amphoteric compounds are amphiprotic because as they're acting as both an acid and a base, it could involve the electron transfer instead of the hydrogen transfer.