Dicarboxylic acid
Encyclopedia : D : DI : DIC : Dicarboxylic acid
A dicarboxylic acid is an organic compound where each molecule contains two carboxylic acid functional groups, often written "-COOH". Dicarboxylic acids can be used to prepare copolymers such as nylon and polyethylene terephthalate.
In general dicarboxylic acids show the same chemical behaviour as monocarboxylic acids. The ionization of the second carboxyl group occurs less readily than the first one. This is because more energy is required to separate a positive hydrogen ion from the doubly charged anion than from the single charged anion.
A mnemonic to aid in remembering the order of the common nomenclature for the first six dicarboxylic acids is "Oh my, such great apple pie!" (oxalic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic).
When one of the carboxy groups is replaced with a aldehyde group, the resulting structure is called a "aldehydic acid".
Examples
- Oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid), HOOC-COOH
- Malonic acid (propanedioic acid), HOOC-(CH2)-COOH
- Succinic acid (butanedioic acid), HOOC-(CH2)2-COOH
- Glutaric acid (pentanedioic acid), HOOC-(CH2)3-COOH
- Adipic acid (hexanedioic acid), HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH
- Pimelic acid (heptanedioic acid), HOOC-(CH2)5-COOH
- Terephthalic acid (1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid), HOOC-C6H4-COOH
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