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[SOLVED] Aluminium Hydroxide as Amphoteric Substance
Aluminium hydroxide is an amphoteric substance. It can act as either a Bronsted-Lowry base or a Lewis acid. Write a reaction showing [tex]Al(OH)_{3}[/tex] acting as a base toward [tex]H^{+}[/tex] and as an acid toward [tex]OH^{-}[/tex].
I know that amphoteric means the substance can act both as a base and as an acid. I also know that, to be a Bronsted-Lowry base, the substance needs to be a proton acceptor and to be a Lewis acid, an electron-pair acceptor.
My biggest problem is that I'm not sure what they really ask. Since it mentions that aluminium hydroxide is an amphoteric substance, does that mean it reacts with itself? If yes, then I'm clueless. If not, then I attempted the following:
[tex]Al(OH)_{3}+H^{+}\rightarrow Al^{3+}+3H_{2}O[/tex]
and
[tex]Al(OH)_{3}+OH^{-}\rightarrow Al(OH)_{4}[/tex]
However, my attempt is very much "gazing in my crystal ball" kind of science since it isn't based on anything I know but rather on a lot of unfounded assumptions and shooting in the dark which is why I need assistance
Thanks in advance!
phyz
Homework Statement
Aluminium hydroxide is an amphoteric substance. It can act as either a Bronsted-Lowry base or a Lewis acid. Write a reaction showing [tex]Al(OH)_{3}[/tex] acting as a base toward [tex]H^{+}[/tex] and as an acid toward [tex]OH^{-}[/tex].
Homework Equations
I know that amphoteric means the substance can act both as a base and as an acid. I also know that, to be a Bronsted-Lowry base, the substance needs to be a proton acceptor and to be a Lewis acid, an electron-pair acceptor.
The Attempt at a Solution
My biggest problem is that I'm not sure what they really ask. Since it mentions that aluminium hydroxide is an amphoteric substance, does that mean it reacts with itself? If yes, then I'm clueless. If not, then I attempted the following:
[tex]Al(OH)_{3}+H^{+}\rightarrow Al^{3+}+3H_{2}O[/tex]
and
[tex]Al(OH)_{3}+OH^{-}\rightarrow Al(OH)_{4}[/tex]
However, my attempt is very much "gazing in my crystal ball" kind of science since it isn't based on anything I know but rather on a lot of unfounded assumptions and shooting in the dark which is why I need assistance
Thanks in advance!
phyz