Question

What type of isomers are Maleic acid and Fumaric acid?

Answer 1

The dicarboxylic acid compounds Maleic acid and fumeric acid are organic compounds, molecules with two carboxyl groups. Maleic acid is the cis-isomer of butenedioic acid, whereas fumaric acid is the trans-isomer. It is mainly used as a precursor to fumaric acid, and relative to its parent maleic anhydride. These are geometrical isomers.

In organic chemistry, cis/trans isomerism or geometric isomerism or configuration isomerism or E/Z isomerism is a form of stereoisomerism describing the orientation of functional groups within a molecule which is called Optical Isomerism. The two isomers of butenedioic acid have such large differences in properties and reactivities that they were actually given completely different names. The cis isomer is called maleic acid and the trans isomer fumaric acid.