Explain why Ka1 > Ka2 > K_a3 for a polyprotic acid like citric acid.

Here's a breakdown of the wonjo juice problem:

Part (a): Explain why $K_{a1} > K_{a2} > K_{a3}$

The dissociation constants ($K_a$) for a polyprotic acid decrease with each successive proton removal. This trend is due to the increasing difficulty of removing a positively charged proton from an increasingly negatively charged species.

• First dissociation ($K_{a1}$): The neutral citric acid ($C_6H_8O_7$) loses a proton to form a singly charged anion ($C_6H_7O_7^-$). This is the easiest proton to remove because there is no electrostatic attraction between the proton and