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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Chemistry » Tartaric Acid

Tartaric Acid

In this article, we will learn about the tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate, their properties, structure and their uses.

Table of Content
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Tartaric acid is an organic acid present in a variety of vegetables and fruits, including bananas, grapes, citrus, and tamarinds. It’s also known as Racemic acid or 2,3-dihydroxy succinic acid. It is utilised in the production of carbon dioxide. It’s a crystalline white diprotic aldaric acid that’s diprotic. It is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. A high amount of tartaric acid can cause death or paralysis. 

Properties of tartaric acid:

  1. It’s available in a variety of white granular to crystalline forms. 

  2. It’s an odourless substance. 

  3. It has a refreshing acidulous flavour. 

  4. The melting point of this substance is 173.625 degrees Celsius. 

  5. The flash point of this material is 210 degrees Celsius. 

  6. It is water soluble. 

  7. It has a molecular mass of 150.087 grams per mol. 

  8. It weighs 1.79 g/mol and has a density of 1.79 g/mol. 

  9. Tartaric acid is a reactive substance found in nature. 

Structure of tartaric acid:

Tartaric acid has two OH and two COOH groups, making it a dihydroxy and dicarboxylic acid. D-tartaric acid, L-tartaric acid, and meso-tartaric acid are chiral molecules with stereoisomerism features. 


Tartaric acid chemical formula:

4 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms make up tartaric acid. It has two hydroxyl groups and two di carboxylic groups and has a molecular weight of 150.09 g/mole. The chemical formula for dihydroxy butanedioic acid (tartaric acid) is as follows: 

Chemical formula:  (CH(OH)COOH)2 

Molecular formula: C4H6O6 

Uses of tartaric acid:

  1. It’s used to make oral drugs taste better.

  2. It’s a chelating agent for metal ions like magnesium and calcium.

  3. It, along with baking soda, is used as a leavening agent in recipes.

  4. It’s a type of antioxidant.

  5. It’s one among the most crucial acids in wine.

  6. It is used to impart a sour flavour to meals.

  7. It’s sometimes used to make people vomit.

  8. Silver mirrors are made from it.

  9. It is utilised in the colouring of textiles in its ester form.

  10. It’s used in the leather tanning process.

  11. It’s found in candies.

  12. It is used as a food stabiliser in cream form. 

Baking soda:

The crystalline structure of sodium bicarbonate, also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, is monoclinic. In the year 1791, a French chemist named Nicolas Leblanc created sodium carbonate. Austin Church and John Dwight, two New York bakers, founded the first plant to make baking soda in 1846. It’s a powder version of a white solid crystalline chemical substance. Sodium ions and bicarbonate ions make up this salt. NaHCO3 is its molecular formula. It’s a shaky foundation. Baking soda is the popular name for this ingredient, which is used in cooking. The pH level is approximately 8.31. 

Properties of sodium bicarbonate:

  1. Its nature is weakly basic. Because sodium bicarbonate is hydrolyzed, a solution of sodium bicarbonate is moderately alkaline. 

  2. The pH of a sodium bicarbonate solution is 8.3. 

  3. There is no colour change with phenolphthalein, but methyl orange produces a yellow colour. 

  4. It’s only slightly soluble in water. 

  5. It has a boiling point of 8510 degrees Celsius and a melting point of 500 degrees Celsius. 

  6. The molecular weight or molar mass is 84.0066 g/mol. 

  7. It decomposes when heated, releasing carbon dioxide gas and forming sodium carbonate. 

Structure of sodium bicarbonate:

  1. The chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3. 

  2. A sodium cation (Na+) and a bicarbonate anion make up this ion (HCO3-). 

  3. Its lattice structure is monoclinic. 

  4. One sodium atom, one carbon atom, one hydrogen atom, and three oxygen atoms make up this compound. 

Uses of sodium bicarbonate:

  1. It is used to kill cockroaches and limit fungal growth as a pesticide.

  2. It’s used as a disinfectant and to keep armpits free of odour and irritation.

  3. It’s used in the kitchen, mainly to bake foods.

  4. It is used in medicine to avoid chemotherapy side effects by being given intravenously.

  5. Because of its antibacterial characteristics, it is used to clean kitchen items.

  6. It is used to keep teeth and mouth clean. 

Conclusion:

In addition, tartaric acid has a number of industrial applications. Metal ions including calcium and magnesium have been reported to be chelated by the acid. As a result, the acid has been used as a chelating agent in the agricultural and metal industries to complex micronutrients in soil fertiliser and to clean metal surfaces made of aluminium, copper, iron, and alloys of these metals, respectively. 

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

What is another name for tartaric acid?

Ans. Tartaric acid, also known as dihydroxybutanedioic acid, is a dicarboxylic acid that is one of the most extensiv...Read full

What is tartaric acid used for?

Ans. In grape and lime-flavoured beverages, gelatin desserts, jams, jellies, and hard sour sweets, tartaric acid is ...Read full

Why do we add tartaric acid in baking soda?

Ans. Tartaric acid is added to counteract the sodium carbonate generated when sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposes w...Read full

What is sodium bicarbonate used for?

Ans. By neutralising excess stomach acid, sodium bicarbonate, popularly known as baking soda, is used to treat heart...Read full

Is sodium bicarbonate harmful to humans?

Ans. Taking sodium bicarbonate in extremely high doses could be dangerous. It’s also possible that taking sodium b...Read full

Ans. Tartaric acid, also known as dihydroxybutanedioic acid, is a dicarboxylic acid that is one of the most extensively used plant acids, with a variety of food and industrial applications. 

.

Ans. In grape and lime-flavoured beverages, gelatin desserts, jams, jellies, and hard sour sweets, tartaric acid is commonly employed as an acidulant. Baking powders and leavening systems contain the acidic monopotassium salt, also known as ‘cream of tartar.’ 

Ans. Tartaric acid is added to counteract the sodium carbonate generated when sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposes when heated. 

 

Ans. By neutralising excess stomach acid, sodium bicarbonate, popularly known as baking soda, is used to treat heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion. When used for this reason, it is classified as an antacid, a type of medicine. 

Ans. Taking sodium bicarbonate in extremely high doses could be dangerous. It’s also possible that taking sodium bicarbonate that hasn’t been entirely dissolved in a solution is dangerous. There has been a stomach rupture, as well as significant alterations in electrolyte levels. 

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