Presented by: Nicole Fisher
Chemistry Seminar
Spring 2013
 Acidic hydrogens
pKa values
 DL-Tartaric acid
pKa1 3.03
pKa2 4.37
 L-Tartaric acid
pKa1 2.98
pKa2 4.34
meso-Tartaric acid
pKa1 3.17
pKa2 4.91
Chiral centers
Hydrophilic groups
Tartaric acid salts
L-Tartaric Acid
pKa1
D-Tartaric Acid
meso-Tartaric Acid
pKa1
pKa1
pKa 2
pKa 2
pKa 2
3-D molecule of tartaric acid
 First found as a byproduct in wine making
Pasteur’s discoveries
 Left-handed and right-handed crystals
 Manual separation of the crystals
Rotation of plane-polarized light
 Dextrorotatory versus levorotatory
D-tartaric
acid
L-tartaric
acid
meso tartaric acid
plane of symmetry
Enantiomers
Diastereomer
 Culinary
•
•
•
•
•
Preservant
Acid adjuster in fermentation reactions
Leavening agent
Food additive for sour taste
Cream of tartar
 Construction
• Cement
 Cosmetics
• Humectant in lotions and conditioners
 Industry & Research
• Resolution of enantiomers
 Broadens scientists’
understanding of optically active
crystals.
 Has many uses in everyday life.
Tartaric acid crystals produced
at Boehringer Ingelheim.