Chapter 9.3, Problem 9.15P

If lactic acid is similar in strength to acetic acid (Table. 9-2), predict whether reactants or products are favored in each reaction.

a. ${\text{C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}(aq){\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}(l)\rightleftarrows {\text{C}}_{\text{3}}{\text{H}}_{\text{5}}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}{}^{\text{-}}(aq){\text{ + H}}_{\text{3}}\text{O}(aq)$
lactic acid
b. ${\text{C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}(aq){\text{ + HCO}}_{\text{3}}{}^{-}(aq)\rightleftarrows {\text{C}}_{\text{3}}{\text{H}}_{\text{5}}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}{}^{\text{-}}(aq){\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CO}}_3(aq)$
lactic acid