Chapter 16, Problem 16.107SP

Tartaric acid ${\text{(C}}_{\text{4}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}{\text{O}}_{\text{6}}\text{)}$ is a diprotic acid that plays an important role in lowering the pH of wine to a level that bacteria cannot survive. Calculate the pH of a 0.50 M tartaric acid solution ${\text{(pK}}_{\text{a1}}\text{=2}{\text{.89; pK}}_{\text{a2}}\text{=4}\text{.40)}\text{.}$