Final answer:
Amphoteric salts, like baking soda, contain ions that can act as either an acid or a base in water. The behavior of such salts leads to solutions that may be neutral, acidic, or basic, depending on the reaction with water. The bicarbonate ion in baking soda illustrates this amphoteric capability through its potential to donate or accept protons.
Step-by-step explanation:
An amphoteric salt is an ionic compound that can dissolve in water to produce a solution that may be neutral, acidic, or basic. The behavior of such a salt in water depends on the presence of either the conjugate base of a weak acid or the conjugate acid of a weak base. When discussing baking soda (NaHCO3), its ionization in water involves the bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) which is an amphoteric species. This means HCO3- can either accept a proton, acting as a base, or donate a proton, acting as an acid.
For example, amphoteric substances like water can react with stronger acids, such as HCl, where water acts as a base and accepts a proton. Conversely, against stronger bases like NH3, water donates a proton and acts as an acid. Similarly, the bicarbonate ion in baking soda can undergo similar reactions, showcasing its amphoteric nature.