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Question
Explain the amphoteric nature of water.
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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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