Water amphiprotic character

One of the likely reasons octanol-water gained such a widespread use is its amphiprotic character, i.e. its abiUty to serve as an H-bond donor and acceptor while, for example, alkane-water systems are inert in that sense, from the point... 

Other molecules and ions besides water may show amphiprotic behavior. Write the two proton transfer equilibria that demonstrate the amphiprotic character of (a) HC03" (b) HP042-, and identify the conjugate acid-base pairs in each equilibrium. 

Most protic solvents have both protogenic and protophilic character, i.e. they can split off as well as bind protons. They are called, therefore, amphiprotic. These include water, alcohols, acids (especially carboxylic), ammonia, dimethylsulphoxide and acetonitrile. Solvents that are protogenic and have weak or practically negligible protophilic character include acid solvents, such as sulphuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, and formic acid. 

Types of Solvent.—In order that a particular solvent may permit a substance dissolved in it to behave as an acid, the solvent itself ifiust be a base, or proton acceptor. A solvent of this kind is said to be proto-philic in character instances of protophilic solvents are water and alcohols, acetone, ether, liquid ammonia, amines and, to some extent, formic and acetic acids. On the other hand, solvents which permit the manifestation of basic properties by a dissolved substance must be proton donors, or acidic such solvents arc protogenic in nature. Water and alcohols arc examples of such solvents, but the most marked protogenic solvents are those of a strongly acidic character, e.g., pure acetic, formic and sulfuric acids, and liquid hydrogen chloride and fluoride. Certain solvents, water and alcohols, in particular, are amphiprotic, for they can act both as proton donors and acceptors these solvents permit substances to show both acidic and basic properties, whereas a purely protophilic solvent, e.g., ether, or a completely protogenic one, e.g., hydrogen fluoride, would permit the manifestation of either acidic or basic functions only. In addition to the types of solvent already considered, there is another class which can neither supply nor take up protons these are called aprotic solvents, and their neutral character makes them especially useful when it is desired to study the interaction of an acidic and a basic substance without interference by the solvent. 

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