Acid-free paper Acid-free paper Acid-free paper is paper that if infused in water yields a neutral or basic pH (7 or slightly greater). It can be made from any cellulose fiber as long as the active acid pulp is eliminated during processing. It is also lignin- and sulfur-free. Acid-free paper addresses the problem of preserving documents and artwork for long periods. Paper made from wood-based pulp that has not had its lignin removed turns yellow, becomes brittle, and deteriorates over time. When exposed to light and/or heat, the molecules in the acidic paper will break down even faster. Acidic wood-pulp paper became
Acid dissociation constant the added complication that the neutral molecule is subject to an internal acid–base equilibrium in which the basic amino group attracts and binds the proton from the acidic carboxyl group, forming a zwitterion. At pH less than about 5 both the carboxylate group and the amino group are protonated. As pH increases the acid dissociates according to At high pH a second dissociation may take place. Thus the zwitterion, , is amphoteric because it may either be protonated or deprotonated. The equilibrium constant "K" for a base is usually defined as the "association" constant for protonation of the base, B,