Amphoteric vs Amphiprotic

[JChen_2I]

Hi,
Is it correct to say that all amphiprotic substances are amphoteric? If so, what are some compounds that are amphoteric but not amphiprotic?

[Rodrigo2J]

Hi! I think the way we have to think about it is that if a substance is amphiprotic then it also has to be amphoteric.

[Brynne Burrows 3K]

Amphiprotic means that a substance can both accept and donate a proton or H+. Amphoteric means that a substance can act as both an acid and a base. All amphoteric substances are amphiprotic because if a molecule can either donate or accept a proton, that means it can act as both an acid or a base. However, ZnO is amphoteric but not amphiprotic because it does not have protons to donate but it can act as an acid or a base.

[ALegala_2I]

What does the term polyprotic mean? Can a molecule be both polyprotic and amphiprotic?

[Rebecca Epner 4A]

Amphiprotic means that a substance can both accept and donate a proton or H+. Amphoteric means that a substance can act as both an acid and a base. All amphoteric substances are amphiprotic because if a molecule can either donate or accept a proton, that means it can act as both an acid or a base. However, ZnO is amphoteric but not amphiprotic because it does not have protons to donate but it can act as an acid or a base.

How can ZnO act as an acid if it does not have protons to donate? Is it because it acts as a Lewis acid and can accept electrons?

[Deana Moghaddas 3E]

So are amphoteric and amphiprotic the same thing?

[JChen_2I]

What does the term polyprotic mean? Can a molecule be both polyprotic and amphiprotic?

Polyprotic means an acid that can give more than one proton

[JChen_2I]

Amphiprotic means that a substance can both accept and donate a proton or H+. Amphoteric means that a substance can act as both an acid and a base. All amphoteric substances are amphiprotic because if a molecule can either donate or accept a proton, that means it can act as both an acid or a base. However, ZnO is amphoteric but not amphiprotic because it does not have protons to donate but it can act as an acid or a base.

How can ZnO act as an acid if it does not have protons to donate? Is it because it acts as a Lewis acid and can accept electrons?

I think it can act as an acid in the since that it can react with a base. For example, ZnO + 2NaOH -> Na2ZnO2 + H2O

[brennayoung]

Amphiprotic means that a substance can both accept and donate a proton or H+. Amphoteric means that a substance can act as both an acid and a base. All amphoteric substances are amphiprotic because if a molecule can either donate or accept a proton, that means it can act as both an acid or a base. However, ZnO is amphoteric but not amphiprotic because it does not have protons to donate but it can act as an acid or a base.

How can ZnO act as an acid if it does not have protons to donate? Is it because it acts as a Lewis acid and can accept electrons?

I think it can act as an acid in the since that it can react with a base. For example, ZnO + 2NaOH -> Na2ZnO2 + H2O

Sorry Im kind of confused, if it doesn't have protons to donate how does it interact to begin with?

[Nuoya Jiang]

polyprotic means an acid can give more than one proton and its conjugate base can accept more than one proton.