Explanation for Precipitation when Mixing Acacia Salicylic Acid and Pure-Succinic™

The precipitation you observed when mixing Acacia Salicylic Acid and Pure-Succinic™ (Succinic Acid, High-Purity) is likely due to a change in the solution's pH.

Here's why:

1. Salicylic Acid Solubility: Salicylic Acid is a weak acid, and its solubility in water is highly dependent on pH. It is much more soluble in alkaline or neutral conditions (where it exists as a salt) and significantly less soluble in acidic conditions (where it exists as the free acid form).
2. Succinic Acid is Acidic: Pure-Succinic™ contains Succinic Acid, which is also an organic acid. When you add Succinic Acid to a solution, it will lower the overall pH of that solution.
3. Acacia Salicylic Acid Formulation: The Acacia Salicylic Acid product is designed to make Salicylic Acid water-soluble, likely by complexing it with Acacia Gum. While this improves solubility compared to plain Salicylic Acid, the solubility is still sensitive to pH.

When you mix the acidic Pure-Succinic™ with the Acacia Salicylic Acid, the Succinic Acid lowers the pH of the mixture. This decrease in pH causes the Salicylic Acid component in the Acacia Salicylic Acid product to convert back into its less soluble, free acid form, leading to precipitation or cloudiness in the solution.

To avoid precipitation, you would typically need to adjust the pH of the final mixture to a range where both ingredients remain soluble, or use alternative forms of Salicylic Acid that are more stable at lower pH levels.