Talk:Tartaric acid
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Tartaric acid is a muscle toxin, which works by inhibiting the production of malic acid, and in high doses causes paralysis and death. The minimum recorded fatal dose for a human is about 12 grams. In spite of that, it is included in many foods, especially sour-tasting sweets.
Precisely how much is in most food, though? That's a really important thing to note. If these sour sweets only have .1 microgram, and the stuff is metabolized, I don't think it's cause for concern...
I've never heard of anyone dying from a grape overdose. :) Mike Church 04:47, 1 May 2004 (UTC)
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- I found at least one MSDS sheet that reports that the LD50 for tartaric acid is undefined. Another seemed to suggest that you needed something like 500mg/kg injected intraveniously or intramuscular. Either way, the numbers are unrealistic. I recommend removing this line until someone can back it up better. "Minimum recorded" ... recorded where? --Mdwyer 23:22, 12 January 2006 (UTC)
The article had Potassium tartrate linked as "Cream of Tartar", but when you went to that link it says that is is commonly mistaken for Potassium bitartrate, which claims to be the real Cream of Tartar. So, I have 'fixed' the link. --Mdwyer 02:32, 22 May 2006 (UTC)
Anyone know of a source with a graphic of the two chiral forms? It would clarify the text.
[edit] From D-tartaric acid
Chemical Name :2S,3S-Dihydroxy Succinic acid Molecular Formula :C4H6O6 Molecular Weight : 150.09 Melting Point :171 deg C- 174 deg C STORAGE : Kept in a light-proof, well-closed, dry and cool place.
D-tartaric acid exists as a white cystalline powder under standard contitions. An important property is that two of its carbon atoms are chiral carbons. This means it is widely used in pharmaceuticals where specific optical isomers are required. It can be used to resolve amino acids quickly and easily.
structure : yet to be uploaded from [1]
For the main article on this topic see tartaric acid.
[edit] Ball and stick model
The ball & stick model at the top right should show hydrogen atoms, or at least it should show double bonds. There is, of course, a convention in which organic structures are drawn without showing hydrogen atoms, but then it is essential to show multiple bonds in order to figure out where the hydrogens go. That convention is not appropriate for chemistry novices anyway. Ball and stick models are often shown without indicating multiple bonds (displaying the skeleton of the molecule), but such models typically show ALL of the atoms. The ball & stick model as shown does not permit even a chemical expert to distinguish which oxygen atoms are carbonyl groups and which are part of hydroxyl groups. -Carmen Giunta, Professor of Chemistry, Le Moyne College
- The ball and stick model did show double bonds but admittedly they were hard to see. I have changed the ball and stick model to the structural formula which is far easier to follow. Thanks for your input Carmen. Scharks 00:50, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Tartaric acid in jam
Tartaric acid is an ingredient of jam. It would be nice to have an explanation as to why, ie, what does it do to the jam. Synique (talk) 02:16, 20 January 2008 (UTC)
