Home Wikituition Browse all terms Categories
Random term
Acids, Bases & Salts

Diprotic Acid

An acid that can donate two protons per molecule.

Formula / equation H₂A ⇌ 2H⁺ + A²⁻
Unit mol/L

In depth

Diprotic acids require two moles of base per mole of acid for complete neutralisation and show two equivalence points on a titration curve, provided the two pKa values differ by at least three units. Their intermediate anion is amphiprotic.

Examples in the real world

Sulfuric acid, whose first proton is strong and second weak; carbonic and oxalic acids.