How would you go about in recognizing an amphoteric compound such as NaHCo3?
Or are there specfic compounds we should know that are amphoteric
Or are there specfic compounds we should know that are amphoteric
Amphoteric Compounds
- Thread starter imbackasd
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Amphoteric = acid and base, so you should be able to consider whether a compound could act either way... Can it pick up/donate electrons (Lewis defintion)? Can it pick up/donate H+ (Bronstead Lowrey definition)?
The most common examples I can think of are water (obviously) and amino acids. You should definitely know those.
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NaHCO3 is amphoteric because it will dissociate into Na+ and HCO3-. HCO3- can act as a base by picking up a proton or it can donate its H to form carbonate.
Water is the most common amphoteric compound.
Water is the most common amphoteric compound.
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I guess the only way to really tell weather a substance is amphoteric is to see which reactions it can undergo.
NaHCO3 will become Na+ and HCO3-. The HCO3- can donate H+ which will make NaHCO3 act as an acid. The HCO3- can also accept an H+ making H2CO3, and NaHCO3 will then act as a base.
NaHCO3 will become Na+ and HCO3-. The HCO3- can donate H+ which will make NaHCO3 act as an acid. The HCO3- can also accept an H+ making H2CO3, and NaHCO3 will then act as a base.
