Difference Between Amphoteric and Amphiprotic

[rita_debbaneh2G]

Can someone explain with examples?

[Alex Mele 2A]

If something is amphoteric, it can act as an (arrhenius) acid or a base (e.g. water, Al(OH)3, Be(OH)2). If something is amphiprotic, it can either donate or accept a proton (water, HCO3-, HSO4-). Everything that is amphiprotic is also amphoteric.

[Andrew Wang 1C]

Amphoteric compounds can act as both acids and bases. One example of an amphoteric compound is Al2O3, which can act as a Lewis acid and base despite not having any protons (H+) to donate.

Amphiprotic compounds can act as both proton donors and acceptors (you can remember this by the "protic" which sounds like "proton"). An example of an amphiprotic compound is water, H2O. It can accept a proton to form H3O+, or donate a proton to form OH-.

So a compound can be amphoteric without being amphiprotic, while amphiprotic compounds are amphoteric. Kinda like how a rectangle isn't necessarily a square, but a square must be a rectangle.

[Crystal Yu 1D]

Amphoteric refers specifically to how it acts (as an acid and a base).
Amphiprotic refers to its affinity with protons (as an acceptor and a donor).
I noticed that sometimes both are used synonymously, but it makes sense because amphiprotic compounds are amphoteric.