Question

Which acid is present in a tomato?
(1) Tartaric acid
(2) Malonic acid
(3) Lactic acid
(4) Oxalic acid

Answer 1

Hint: Tomatoes are the edible berries of the Solanum lycopersicum plant. A tomato is a fruit—a berry made up of the ovaries and seeds of a flowering plant, according to botany. The tomato, on the other hand, is classified as a "culinary vegetable" since it contains far less sugar than culinary fruits; it is usually served as part of a salad or main dish rather than as a dessert.

Complete answer:
Oxalic acid is an organic chemical having the formula \[H{O_2}C - C{O_2}H\] and the IUPAC name ethanedioic acid. It is the most basic of the dicarboxylic acids. It's a white crystalline solid that dissolves in water to create a colourless solution. It gets its name from the fact that oxalic acid was first extracted from flowering plants of the genus Oxalis, sometimes known as wood-sorrels. Although oxalic acid is found naturally in many foods, it can be harmful if consumed in large amounts or when skin contact is sustained. The acid strength of oxalic acid is significantly higher than that of acetic acid. It is a reducing agent, and its conjugate base, oxalate (\[{C_2}{O_4}^{2 - }\]), is a metal cation chelating agent.
Citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acids, and oxalic acid are only a few of the acids found in tomatoes. There are more than ten distinct types of acids in a tomato, but two of them account for the majority of them: citric acid and malic acid. Another important acid found in tomatoes is ascorbic acid, which is more commonly known as vitamin C. All three acids help to safeguard your health and keep you energised. The primary organic acids in tomatoes are citric and malic acid. Other organic acids can also be used. Small quantities of fumaric acid are commonly seen in commercial malic acid.

Note:
The toxicity of oxalic acid is induced by the precipitation of solid calcium oxalate, the primary component of calcium kidney stones, which causes renal failure. By forming comparable precipitates in the joints, oxalic acid can likewise induce joint discomfort. When ethylene glycol is consumed, it produces oxalic acid, a metabolite that can induce acute renal failure. In both humans and rats, calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) reduces urinary oxalate.