Question

Use the hydrogen carbonate ion, HCO3 -, to illustrate amphoteric behavior.

A) Can act as an acid but not a base.
B) Can act as a base but not an acid.
C) Can act as both an acid and a base.
D) Can't act as either an acid or a base

Answer 1

Hydrogen carbonates can act as both weak acids and weak bases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hydrogen carbonates are amphoteric because they act as both weak acids and weak bases. Hydrogen carbonate ions act as acids and react with solutions of soluble hydroxides to form a carbonate and water: KHCO3(aq) + KOH(aq) -> K2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)