Chapter 14, Problem 33Q

Students are often surprised to learn that organic acids, such as acetic acid, contain —OH groups. Actually, all oxyacids contain hydroxyl groups. Sulfuric acid, usually written as H₂SO₄, has the structural formula SO₂(OH)₂, where S is the central atom. Identify the acids whose structural formulas are shown below. Why do they behave as acids, while NaOH and KOH are bases?

a. SO(OH)₂

b. ClO₂(OH)

c. HPO(OH)₂