Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to weak acids

Ying Zhang1, Hao Zhang, Zhonghe Sun

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. yzhang@jhsph.edu

Related Concept Videos

Weak Acid Solutions04:02

Weak Acid Solutions

Few compounds act as strong acids. A far greater number of compounds behave as weak acids and only partially react with water, leaving a large majority of dissolved molecules in their original form and generating a relatively small amount of hydronium ions. Weak acids are commonly encountered in nature, being the substances partly responsible for the tangy taste of citrus fruits, the stinging sensation of insect bites, and the unpleasant smells associated with body odor. A familiar example of a...
Mixtures of Acids03:27

Mixtures of Acids

The pH of a solution containing an acid can be determined using its acid dissociation constant and its initial concentration. If a solution contains two different acids, then its pH can be determined using one of several methods depending upon the relative strength of the acids and their dissociation constants.
A Mixture of a Strong Acid and a Weak Acid
In a mixture of a strong acid and a weak acid, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions...
Titration Calculations: Weak Acid - Strong Base03:55

Titration Calculations: Weak Acid - Strong Base

Calculating pH for Titration Solutions: Weak Acid/Strong Base
For the titration of 25.00 mL of 0.100 M CH3CO2H with 0.100 M NaOH, the reaction can be represented as:
Titration of a Weak Acid with a Weak Base01:08

Titration of a Weak Acid with a Weak Base

Weak acids and bases do not undergo dissociation completely, and titrations between these two are rarely studied. When such studies are performed, say, for the titration of a weak acid with a weak base, the titration curve plots the change in pH as a function of the volume of base added. Take the titration of acetic acid with ammonia, for instance. During the titration, these two species form ammonium acetate and water, but the pH change is slow and gradual.
As a result, there is no simple...
Mixtures of Acids01:19

Mixtures of Acids

The pH of a solution containing an acid can be determined using its acid dissociation constant and initial concentration. If a solution contains two different acids, then its pH can be determined using one of several methods depending on the relative strength of the acids and their dissociation constants.
In a strong and weak acid mixture, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions present in the solution. In contrast, the weak acid shows...
Tuberculosis01:23

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, primarily targeting the lungs and spreading through airborne transmission. Infection begins when aerosolized droplet nuclei, expelled by an individual with active TB, are inhaled by another person. These microscopic particles carry Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Upon reaching the alveoli, the bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. However, due to their specialized lipid-rich cell wall, these pathogens...