Water behaves as an amphoteric substance becausea)it has the ability t...
water can gain proton as well as it can lose proton.
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Water behaves as an amphoteric substance becausea)it has the ability t...
Water behaves as an amphoteric substance because it has the ability to act as both an acid and a base. This means that it can donate a proton (H+) to another substance, acting as an acid, or accept a proton, acting as a base.
Explanation:
1. Definition of an amphoteric substance:
- An amphoteric substance is one that can act as both an acid and a base, depending on the reaction conditions.
- It can donate a proton (H+) to another substance, acting as an acid, or accept a proton, acting as a base.
2. Water as an amphoteric substance:
- Water (H2O) is a prime example of an amphoteric substance.
- It can act as an acid by donating a proton (H+). In this case, water can ionize to form hydronium ions (H3O+) and hydroxide ions (OH-): H2O + H2O ⇌ H3O+ + OH-
- It can also act as a base by accepting a proton (H+). In this case, water can react with an acid to form hydronium ions (H3O+): HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-
3. Acidic and basic properties of water:
- In pure water, a small proportion of water molecules will undergo self-ionization to form hydronium and hydroxide ions.
- The concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+) and hydroxide ions (OH-) in pure water is equal, leading to a neutral pH of 7.
- When an acid is added to water, the concentration of hydronium ions increases, making the solution acidic (pH less than 7).
- When a base is added to water, the concentration of hydroxide ions increases, making the solution basic or alkaline (pH greater than 7).
Conclusion:
Water behaves as an amphoteric substance because it has the ability to act as both an acid and a base. This unique property allows water to participate in a wide range of chemical reactions and makes it essential for various biological and chemical processes.
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