Question

What is amphoteric nature?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that the amphoteric compounds are the compounds which can react with both acids as well as bases. Along with aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, lead is also amphoteric in nature. These metals usually form amphoteric oxides or hydroxides.

Complete answer:
Amphoteric meaning, in the simplest term, can be stated as any compound that can be mixed with other compounds both as a base and an acid. For example, water is amphoteric. It can be transformed into a compound that can be used as an alkali or an acid. Most amphoteric compounds are metal oxides or hydroxides. Hydroxides are famous for using amphoterics. Not all metals can be used as amphoteric hydroxides. Hydroxides that are made of highly charged metal cations are used for amphoteric.
They can react in two conditions. They can either function as a Bronsted Lowry base by receiving protons or work as Lewis acid by receiving a pair of electrons. In acidic conditions, a simple neutralization reaction occurs. As mentioned before, here the hydroxide would react as a base and would either give off protons or accept electrons.
In an alkaline condition, the hydroxide will behave just like an acid by accepting protons from the other reactant. As we know, an amphoteric compound is a molecule or ion that can react both as an acid and as a base. Since water has the potential to act both as an acid and as a base, water is amphoteric. Amphoteric behavior applies to acids and bases defined in the Bronsted-Lowry sense and in the wider Lewis sense.

Note:
 Remember that the amphoteric substance reacts like an alkali when combined with an acid. In contrast, it reacts as an acid when it encounters an alkaline solution. Thus, an amphoteric substance can be both an acid and a base depending on the condition they are in.