Chapter 2, Problem 21RE

REFLECT AND APPLY Aspirin is an acid with a $\text{p}{K}_{\text{a}}$ of 3.5; its structure includes a carboxyl group. To be absorbed into the bloodstream, it must pass through the membrane lining the stomach and the small intestine. Electrically neutral molecules can pass through a membrane more easily than can charged molecules. Would you expect more aspirin to be absorbed in the stomach, where the pH of gastric juice is about 1, or in the small intestine, where the pH is about 6? Explain your answer.