Identifying Amphoteric Compounds

[Tracy Tran 3L]

How can I tell if a compound is amphoteric? For example, how would I know that HCO3- is amphoteric?

[Irene Kang 3F]

It is amphoteric when the compound can both give and receive electrons. HCO3- is amphoteric because it can accept an electron and become H2CO3 or it can give it away and make H2O into H3O+. It acts both as an acid and a base.

[Brooke Gushiken 1B]

An amphoteric compound is one that can act as an acid or a base since it can either donate or receive an H+ ion. HCO3- can donate its H+ ion to become CO32-, or it can receive an ion to become H2CO3, so its ability to do either is what classifies it as amphoteric. I hope this helps!

[Akshat Katoch 2K]

An amphoteric compound is a compound that can react with an acid or base. However, it depends on what type of acid/base definition you are using. If it is lewis then it can receive and donate e-. If it is Bronsted-Lowry then it can donate and accept H+ (protons). HCO3- is amphoteric because it can donate its electron and become CO3 2- or accept electrons and become H2CO3. That same idea can be applied with Bronsted-Lowry where the H+ can be donated and HCO3- becomes CO3 2- or it can accept an H+ and become H2CO3.

[Acharya Ranawat 3E]

HCO3- has two ways that it change. One of the ways is gaining a hydrogen ion in order to make H2CO3, and the other way is losing the H+ ion in order to make the (CO3)2- ion. Hope this helps!