The acid found in lemon is citric acid.
(a)- True
(b)- False
Hint:Lemon is classified as a citrus fruit, and citric acid is recognized as an acid. Chemically, citric acid is referred to as 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid.
Complete step by step answer:
Lemon is classified as a citrus fruit because it contains citric acid. Lemon juice and lime juice are rich sources of citric acid, which gives these fruits their distinct tart and sour flavor. Chemically, citric acid is named 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid.
Citric acid is widely used as an ingredient in food, cleaning agents, and dietary supplements. However, the citric acid used for these purposes is different from the naturally occurring acid found in lemons.
Citric acid itself is a colorless, odorless compound. Because of its sour, acidic flavor, it is widely used as a flavoring and preservative. Due to its ability to disinfect against bacteria and viruses, citric acid also serves as a stabilizing or preserving agent.
In addition to lemons, citric acid is present in other citrus fruits such as limes, oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and pomelos in significant amounts. Fruits with smaller amounts of citric acid include pineapples, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and cherries.
The structural formula of citric acid is shown below:
It contains three carboxylic acid groups.
Thus, the statement, “The acid present in lemon is citric acid,” is true.
Note: Food items or drinks such as ketchup, made from tomatoes, also contain citric acid. Additionally, citric acid is a by-product in the production of cheese, wine, and sourdough bread.