Compare the $\ce{OH}$ bonds in Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and decide which one is the most acidic. The most acidic proton in ascorbic acid is the one whose conjugate base is most resonance stabilized.
- Removal of either of these $\ce{H}$'s at hydroxyl group A or B does not give a resonance stabilized anion:
- The proton at D is less acidic, since its conjugate base is lessresonance stabilized with two resonance structures:
- The proton at C is the most acidic proton in ascorbic acid since the conjugate base is most resonance stabilized: