Citric Acid (1 Viewer)

[Leasha23]

Okay...
According to my chemistry teacher, citric acid is CH2COOH-HOCCOOH-CH2COOH... this I am comfortable with!

My question is, is citric acid monoprotic or diprotic? AND if someone could give me the equation of its ionisation this would be veeeeeery appreciated thankyou!!

LeAsHa

 

[Xayma]

Triprotic. Three carboxylic acid groups.

It ionises by letting a hydrogen atom go from the carboxylic acid groups.

 

[Leasha23]

Triprotic. Three carboxylic acid groups.

It ionises by letting a hydrogen atom go from the carboxylic acid groups.

Thanks for that! Will one of the carboxylic acid groups ionise preferentially, or does it not matter which order u show the ionisation in?

 

[Xayma]

Just show it as C₆H₈O₇ you wont be asked to show structual progressive ionisation as it will take too long.