In: Chemistry
Lactic acid is a by-product when glucose is burned anaerobically (without using oxygen) which is utilized by mammalian muscles under exertion. In solution, lactic acid can produce H3O+. The reaction can be written as either: lactic acid(aq) + H2O(l) <---> lactate(aq) + H3O+(aq) or C3H6O3(aq) +H2O(l) <---> C3H5O3-(aq) + H3O+(aq) The equilibrium constant for this reaction at 25oC is 8.3 x 10-4. a) What is ∆Go at 25oC? Is the reaction spontaneous under standard conditions? Explain. b) The biological standard condition has all concentrations at 1 M except for H3O+ which is 1.0 x 10-7 (the value at a pH of 7) and the temperature is 37oC. What is ∆G under these conditions? Would the reaction be spontaneous? Explain.