Amphoteric Reaction

AMPHOTERIC REACTION (from Greek amphoteros - double-sided), the usual designation for a reaction of a liquid capable of changing the color of both acid and base indicators (e.g., causing red litmus paper to turn blue and blue litmus paper to turn red). This term should be considered incorrect and obsolete, as it does not give an accurate representation of either the true active reaction (see), or the hidden, reserve alkalinity or acidity. Depending on the indicator used, an amphoteric reaction will correspond to different active reactions. The fact that a number of physiological fluids give an amphoteric reaction depends on their content of ampholytes (see), which hydrolytically detach both OH ions and H ions. An amphoteric reaction on litmus corresponds approximately to [H+]=10-8 or pH=6.0. AMFOTROPIN, Amfotropin, camphor-uric acid hexamine, which is an antiseptic for urinary organs in bacteriuria, chronic cystitis, pyelitis, etc. Dosage: three times a day, 0.5-1.0.