Question

1. Sketch the structures of maleic and fumaric acids. What is the structural relationship between the two? 2. How does the structure/isomerism of each acid affect its physical properties?

Answer 1

See explanation

Step-by-step explanation:

The structures of maleic and fumaric acids are shown in the image attached to this answer.

We can easily see that maleoc and fumaric acids are geometric isomers of each other. They differ only in the orientation of the -COOH group about the C=C double bond.

Maleic acid is less stable than fumaric acid as shown by their respective heats of combustion. This is expected since maleic acid is the cis-isomer with more steric repulsion than the trans-isomer.

Maleic acid is more soluble than fumaric acid and also has a lower melting point than fumaric acid.