Amphoteric

Name:
Amphoteric
Detailed information:
Having the capacity of behaving either as an acid or a base. Thus, aluminum hydroxide neutralizes acids with the formation of aluminum salts, Al(OH)₃ + 3HCl → AlCl₃ + 3H₂O, and also dissolves in strongly basic solutions to form aluminates, Al(OH)₃ + 3NaOH → Na₃AlO₃ + 3H₂O. Amino acids and proteins are amphoteric, i.e., their molecules contain both an acid group (COOH) and a basic group (NH₂). Thus, wool can absorb both acidic and basic dyes.