Aluminium
hydroxide Al(OH)3 is amphoteric, so is gallium hydroxide Ga(OH)3
(ie. behaves as a base
towards strong acids and as an
acid towards strong bases):
ie. Al(OH)3 ® Al3+ + 3OH-
\ Al(OH)3 + 3H+ ®
Al3+aq + 3H2O
& Al(OH)3 + H2O ®
Al(OH)4- + H+
\ Al(OH)3 + OH- ®
Al(OH)4-
In these examples Al(OH)3 acts indirectly
as both a proton
acceptor & a proton
donor.