IIT/JEE Chemistry Practice #32: Protonation States and pKa

The video tutorial explores the protonation states and PKA of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin). It explains the relationship between pH and PKA, focusing on how these factors affect the ionization of aspirin in different environments, such as the stomach and small intestine. The tutorial highlights that aspirin remains unionized in the acidic environment of the stomach and becomes ionized in the basic environment of the small intestine. This understanding is crucial for assessing the behavior of aspirin in the human body.

Describe the pH levels in the stomach and small intestine and their significance for aspirin's protonation state.

What happens to the carboxyl group of aspirin in the stomach compared to the small intestine?