Amphiprotic and Polyprotic Molecules

Amphiprotic acids and bases are substances that can function as either an acid or a base. They can accept an H⁺ ion and thus act as a base, or they can give off an H⁺ ion and act as an acid. An example of this is HSO₄^-. HSO₄^- can either accept a hydronium ion, in which case it's acting like a base, or it can give off a hydronium ion, becoming SO₄^2-, in which case it's acting like an acid. Polyprotic acids act in a similar way. They can give off multiple hydronium ions, acting as acids twice or even three times. H₂SO₄, sulfuric acid, is a polyprotic acid.

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