Which among the following is dicarboxylic acid?
- Valeric acid
- Caproic acid
- Glutaric acid
- Butyric acid
Solution
To identify the dicarboxylic acid, we examine the carboxyl group count for each compound.
Valeric acid (pentanoic acid) has formula $\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_3\text{COOH}$, containing one carboxyl group and is thus monocarboxylic.
Caproic acid (hexanoic acid) is $\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_4\text{COOH}$, also monocarboxylic.
Glutaric acid (pentanedioic acid) has structure $\text{HOOC}(\text{CH}_2)_3\text{COOH}$, with two carboxyl groups, making it dicarboxylic.
Butyric acid (butanoic acid) is $\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_2\text{COOH}$, again monocarboxylic.
The dicarboxylic acid is glutaric acid.
Asked in: MHT CET 2025 (05 May Shift 2)
Practice more Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids questions on Aicharya