The pKa of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) is 3.5. The pH of gastric juice in human stomach is about 2−3 and the pH in the small intestine is about 8. Aspirin will be:
A
unionised in the small intestine and in the stomach
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B
completely ionised in the small intestine and in the stomach
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C
ionised in the stomach and almost unionised in the small intestine
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D
ionised in the small intestine and almost unionised in the stomach
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Solution
The correct option is D ionised in the small intestine and almost unionised in the stomach
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a weak acid. So, in the acidic pH of the stomach, it must be more in unnionised form. In the alkaline pH of the intestine, it must be more in ionised form.