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Glite Dictionary
amphoteric

amphoteric

9.9
Able to act like an acid or a base in chemical reactions
  • adjective
  • /æmˈfoʊtɛrɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : amfotérico
  • An amphoteric molecule can donate or accept protons, which is essential in many chemical reactions.

Examples

  • Zinc oxide is considered amphoteric as it can react with both acids and bases to form salts.

  • And so your amphoteric it can molecule can function as either an acid or base depending on the conditions.

  • Water is an amphoteric substance because it can react with both acids and bases.

Synonyms

amphiprotic
vsamphoteric
  • Specialized
9.9

Able to act as either an acid or a base, like water

is able to react as either acid or base without mentioning proton transfer

Compounds

amphoteric electrolyte
  • Specialized
8.2

A substance that can act as an acid or a base depending on the liquid it is in

Surface Forms

amphoteric positive

Morphology

amphoteric = amphoter + ic

Built from the Greek combining form meaning 'both' plus the adjectival suffix '-ic'; the combining form is not a standalone English word and the meaning is specialised (chemistry), so learners may only partly infer the meaning from its parts.

Etymology

Amphoteric comes from the Greek root amphi- meaning 'both', the same root you see in amphibian, which lives 'both' in water and on land. So an amphoteric substance can act as 'both' an acid and a base.