Dicarboxylic Acids

Dicarboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain two carboxylic acid functional groups. In molecular formulae for dicarboxylic acids, these groups are sometimes written as HOOC-R-COOH. Dicarboxylic acids are be used to prepare copolymers such as polyamides and polyesters.

In general, dicarboxylic acids show similar chemical behaviour and reactivity as monocarboxylic acids. The ionization of the second carboxyl group occurs less readily than the first. This effect arises because more energy is required to deprotonate anions than neutral molecules.

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). A variant adds "Sweet as sugar!" (suberic, azelaic, sebacic) to the end of the mnemonic. An additional way of remembering the first six dicarboxylic acids is by simply recalling the acronym OMSGAP, which is a simplification of the previously described mnemonic device.

When one of the carboxy groups is replaced with an aldehyde group, the resulting structure is called a "aldehydic acid".

Read more about Dicarboxylic Acids:  Examples

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