Why is citric acid so sour despite it being apparently a weak acid?
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“weak” is relative.
Citric acid, a weak acid, tastes really sour.
Nitric acid, a strong acid, dissolves your tongue.
Also “weak acid” / “strong acid” is a specific chemistry term describing whether an acid fully dissociates into H+ and [acid]- ions in solution (strong) or if only a certain % of acid molecules dissociate and then reach an equilibrium (weak). It’s not using “weak” and “strong” in their normal non-science definitions. When something is a “weak acid” we’re not saying it’s weakly corrosive or weakly sour, only saying it doesn’t 100% dissociate in solution. There are “weak acids” that are *extremely* corrosive and dangerous, that you definitely could not even eat like you can with citric.
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