Definition of "amphoteric" []

• Having the characteristics of an acid and a base and capable of reacting chemically either as an acid or a base. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Turns out the official Wikipedia answer is that it is an amphoteric compound reacting with both acids and bases and aqueous solutions are mildly alkaline."
• "There are four types of detergents: anionic, nonionic, cationic, and amphoteric."
• "Other words for stabilizer are: amphoteric, neutral or intermediate oxide."