Question

Succinic acid (H₂C₄H₆O₄), which we will denote H₂Suc, is a biologically relevant diprotic acid with the structure shown below. It is closely related to tartaric acid and malic acid (Figure 16.1). At 25 °C, the acid-dissociation constants for succinic acid are K_a1 = 6.9 × 10^-5 and K_a2 = 2.5 × 10^-6. (a) Determine the pH of a 0.32 M solution of H₂Suc at 25 °C, assuming that only the first dissociation is relevant. (b) Determine the molar concentration of Suc^2– in the solution in part (a). (c) Is the assumption you made in part (a) justified by the result from part (b)? (d) Will a solution of the salt NaHSuc be acidic, neutral, or basic?