Which is the stronger acid in each pair? COOH O COOH (a) CH or 3COOH Acetic acid CH3SO3H Methanesulfonic acid (b) or 2-Oxopropanoic acid (Pyruvic acid) Propanoic acid
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Textbook Solutions for Organic Chemistry
Question
Low-molecular-weight dicarboxylic acids normally exhibit two different pKa values. Ionization of the fi rst carboxyl group is easier than the second. This effect diminishes with molecular size, and, for adipic acid and longer chain dicarboxylic acids, the two acid ionization constants differ by about one pK unit. 5498X_17_ch17_p649-679.indd 674 12/13/10 3:48:58 PM . 675 Why do the two pKa values differ more for the shorter chain dicarboxylic acids than for the longer chain dicarboxylic acids?
Solution
The first step in solving 17 problem number 28 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Low-molecular-weight dicarboxylic acids normally exhibit two different pKa values. Ionization of the fi rst carboxyl group is easier than the second. This effect diminishes with molecular size, and, for adipic acid and longer chain dicarboxylic acids, the two acid ionization constants differ by about one pK unit. 5498X_17_ch17_p649-679.indd 674 12/13/10 3:48:58 PM . 675 Why do the two pKa values differ more for the shorter chain dicarboxylic acids than for the longer chain dicarboxylic acids?
From the textbook chapter Carboxylic Acids you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.
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