Meaning & use
amphoteric
Last updated
Capable of reacting chemically as either an acid or a base.
See it in a sentence
Water is amphoteric because it can act as either an acid or a base depending on what it reacts with.
Aluminum oxide is an amphoteric compound, dissolving in both strong acids and strong bases.
A note on using this word
A precise chemistry term; not to be confused with 'amphiphilic,' which describes molecules with both water-attracting and water-repelling parts.
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