Maleic acid is prepared by the catalytic oxidation of benzene. It is a dicarboxylic acid; that is, it has two carboxylic acid groups.
(a) Combustion of 0.125 g of the acid gives 0.190 g of CO₂ and 0.0388 g of H₂O. Calculate the empirical formula of the acid.
(b) A 0.261-g sample of the acid requires 34.60 mL of 0.130 M NaOH for complete titration (so that the H ions from both carboxylic acid groups are used). What is the molecular formula of the acid?
(c) Draw a Lewis structure for the acid.
(d) Describe the hybridization used by the C atoms.
(e) What are the bond angles around each C atom?