December 27, 2024, 01:25:11 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: acid-base  (Read 2817 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Imo

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 30
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
acid-base
« on: April 28, 2012, 09:35:20 PM »
Why salicylic acid is not amphoteric ? The group OH could react with H+ , not?

Offline Dan

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4716
  • Mole Snacks: +469/-72
  • Gender: Male
  • Organic Chemist
    • My research
Re: acid-base
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2012, 06:53:11 AM »
My research: Google Scholar and Researchgate

Offline orgopete

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2636
  • Mole Snacks: +213/-71
    • Curved Arrow Press
Re: acid-base
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2012, 08:23:40 PM »
Given that phenol is more acidic than water, this means its electrons are less available for protonation than water. The pKa of hydronium ion is circa -1.7. The pKa of the conjugate acid of the protonated species would have to be more than the pKa of the carboxylic acid, ca. 4. Oxygen just isn't basic enough.
Author of a multi-tiered example based workbook for learning organic chemistry mechanisms.

Sponsored Links