An organic compound, Z, will react with calcium metal to produce a salt with the empirical formula
CaC4H6O4.
What could be the identity of Z?
1 ethanoic acid
2 butanedioic acid
3 methylpropanedioic acid

Question

An organic compound, Z, will react with calcium metal to produce a salt with the empirical formula 
CaC4H6O4. 
What could be the identity of Z? 
1 ethanoic acid 
2 butanedioic acid 
3 methylpropanedioic acid

aaronq · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

CaC4H6O4 looks a lot like Ca(C2H3O2)2 which is calcium acetate, so I'd expect the acid that reacted with the calcium metal to be acetic (that is, ethanoic) acid.