Acetic acid, shown below, is a member of a family called carboxylic acids (RCOOH) a. Dr...

Acetic acid, shown below, is a member of a family called carboxylic acids (RCOOH)

a. Draw the conjugate base of acetic acid (called acetate), including both important resonance structures.

b. Acetic acid has a pK_a of 5. Based on pK_a data, rank acetate and the two bases shown in Figure 5.5 from highest to lowest potential energy.

c. Construct an explanation based on resonance arguments for your potential energy rank order in the previous question. (Note all three bases have two important resonance structures.)

d. Briefly summarize how both the quantity and quality of an ion’s resonance structures affect its potential energy.

(Reference Figure 5.5)