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Explain the amphoteric nature of water.

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Question

Explain the amphoteric nature of water.

Explain
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Solution

Water can act as both an acid and a base. Such behaviour is known as the amphoteric nature of water.

e.g. 

\[\ce{\underset{\text{(Acid)}}{H2O_{(l)}} + NH_{3(aq)} <=> OH^-_{ (aq)} + NH^+_{ 4(aq)}}\]

\[\ce{\underset{\text{(Base)}}{H2O_{(l)}} + HCl_{(aq)} <=> H3O^+_{ (aq)} + Cl^-_{ (aq)}}\]

H2O acts as an acid towards NH3 and as a base towards HCl.

Therefore, H2O is amphoteric.

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Chapter 3: Ionic Equilibria - Long answer questions
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