Chemistry: amphoteric vs amphiprotic

Tutoring chemistry, terms are important. The tutor distinguishes amphoteric and amphiprotic.

If a species is amphoteric, it can act either as an acid or a base, depending on the context.

A term that sounds somewhat similar – amphiprotic – means that a chemical entity can either gain or lose a proton, depending on its context.

Amphoteric and amphiprotic can both be true of some chemical species. An example is the hydrogen carbonate ion. In an acidic solution, it can gain a proton to become carbonic acid. By gaining a proton, it’s acting as a base. Yet, in a basic environment, it can lose its proton to become carbonate ion. By losing a proton, it’s acting as an acid.

There are also amphoteric species that aren’t amphiprotic. That’s for another post.

Source:

chem.libretexts.org

Mortimer, C.E. (1986). Chemistry, 6th ed. Wadsworth Publishing Company.