Is acetic acid CH3COOH a triprotic acid ?

Question

Is acetic acid CH3COOH a triprotic acid ?

Answer 1

Acetic acid only has four hydrogen atoms, and three are attached to a carbon atom.  Only the hydrogen atoms that are attached to an oxygen can come off as hydrogen ions.  The C-H bonds are very covalent, while the O-H bond is much more polar.  The H attached to O is much easier to remove.

Therefore acetic acid can lose only one H and is "monoprotic", not "triprotic".

Answer 2

No it is not, it is monoprotic. Rather then me trying to explain. I am a chemistry major but I am a terrible teacher, here is a website:

Answer 3

it's monoprotic. Acetic acid can be written as HAc. Notice that it has only one Hydrogen atom acting as a cation to form an acid. Acetic acid is from the combination of hydrogen and acetate whose charge is -1. Apparently, only 1 H ion is needed to form the acid which proves that it is monoprotic. :D Chem RoCKz!!