Chemistry - How does strength of boric acid solution increase in presence of salicylic acid?

Solution 1:

Equilibrium will be far to the right, as a stable six membered ring is formed. The proton speaks for itself.

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References: Queen, A. The kinetics of the reaction of boric acid with salicylic acid. Can. J. Chem. 1977, 55 (16), 3035–3039 DOI: 10.1139/v77-421.

Solution 2:

By googling "boric acid salicylic acid" I have found the salicylic acid acts like it was a diol toward the boric acid, but just 1:1.

https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/v77-421