Moderate

Which of the following is an unsaturated carboxylic acid___________________?

Correct answer: D. maleic acid

  • A. malonic acid
  • B. oxalic acid
  • C. succinic acid
  • D. maleic acid

Explanation

Maleic acid is but-2-enedioic acid, containing a carbon-carbon double bond, so it is an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid. Malonic, oxalic and succinic acids contain no carbon-carbon double bond. The likely wrong choice is succinic acid because it is also a dicarboxylic acid, but it is saturated.

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About Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids show acidic behaviour because their carboxylate ions are resonance-stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups can change their strength. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, formation of acid chlorides and amides, reduction, decarboxylation and substitution at the acyl carbon, which differs from the reactions of phenols.

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