Achieve Homework 10 - #2

[BB Dis 1H]

Is the only criteria for being amphoteric that the substance has to have both a hydrogen ion and a negative charge? Or are there more possibilities that will make an amphoteric substance?

[Aliza Hacking 1A]

I think generally an amphoteric substance can act as an acid or a base which would align with the definition you gave! In the context of this class, a lot of times when we're considering amphoteric substances we're looking at group 13-15 metals like aluminum that can create acidic or basic aqueous solutions.

[Lawrence Javelo Disc 3B]

Amphoteric just means that the molecule/ ion can act as either an acid or a base based the solution that it is presented in. For this class, the main 2 amphoteric compounds that we have come across have been HSO4- (Conjugate base of H2SO4) and H2PO4- (conjugate base of H3PO4).

[Nathan Morgan 2C]

I believe that the criteria are that it can act as an acid and a base. When solving this problem, however, it was the compound that had both an H and a negative charge. I am unsure if that will always be true, but as with the ones we have thus far seen in class, this has been a good indicator!

[Raizel Ferrer 1H]

Is the only criteria for being amphoteric that the substance has to have both a hydrogen ion and a negative charge? Or are there more possibilities that will make an amphoteric substance?

An amphoteric substance has the definition of having both acidic and basic character rather than having both a hydrogen ion and a negative charge. An example of an amphoteric substance is H2O.

[BB Dis 1H]

Amphoteric just means that the molecule/ ion can act as either an acid or a base based the solution that it is presented in. For this class, the main 2 amphoteric compounds that we have come across have been HSO4- (Conjugate base of H2SO4) and H2PO4- (conjugate base of H3PO4).

Thank you for giving these examples of the main amphoteric compounds we have seen. That's super helpful!

[Shannon Clark 1F]

To be classified as amphoteric, a molecule has to be able to act as an acid and a base. This means you should be able to repeatedly add or remove Hydrogen atoms from the molecule. Thus, the molecule must have at least 1 H that it can give away. A negative charge means that the molecule can accept H+ more easily, so it is also a good indicator of a substance being amphoteric.