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Acids, Bases & Salts

Amphiprotic Species

A species that can both donate and accept a proton.

Unit Dimensionless

In depth

Amphiprotic behaviour is a specific type of amphoterism restricted to species that actually transfer protons, so it requires both an ionisable hydrogen and a lone pair. Whether such a species behaves as acid or base in a given solution depends on the relative sizes of its Ka and Kb.

Examples in the real world

HCO₃⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ and water itself; hydrogencarbonate is basic in water because its Kb exceeds its Ka.