Question

the structure of phosphoric acid may be represented as a central phosphorus atom double-bonded to an oxygen ato and single-bonded to three OH groups. Draw the structure of phosphoric acid and explain why it is relatively easy to remove the first proton, considerably harder to remove the second proton, and extremely difficult to remove the third proton in chemical reactions.

Answer 1

In the first ionization stage a POSITIVE ion H⁺ is removed from a NEUTRAL molecule whereas in the second ionization stage a POSITIVE ion H⁺ is removed from a NEGATIVE ion

Removal of a positive ion from a negative ion is more difficult than the remoaval of a positive ion from a neutral molecule because of the greater attraction between oppsitely charged ions.

In the third ionization stage a POSITIVE ion H⁺ is removed from a DI NEGATIVE ion

Removal of a positive ion from a dinegative ion is even more difficult than the removal of a positive ion from a negative ion

This explains .why it is relatively easy to remove the first proton, considerably harder to remove the second proton, and extremely difficult to remove the third proton in chemical reactions.

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