An organic compound, X, will react with calcium metal to produce a salt with the empirical formula
CaC4H4O4.
What could be the identity of X?
1 ethanoic acid
2 butanedioic acid
3 2-methylpropanedioic acid

Question

An organic compound, X, will react with calcium metal to produce a salt with the empirical formula 
CaC4H4O4. 
What could be the identity of X? 
1 ethanoic acid 
2 butanedioic acid 
3 2-methylpropanedioic acid

aaronq · Answer

Draw them, see which one matches the stoichiometry.

aaronq · Answer

Remember that one of the oxygens of each carboxylic acid will unprotonated in order to be able to form ionic bonds with $Ca^{2+}$.

anonymous · Answer

is the equation for butanedioic acid = HOOCCH2Ch2COOH and after reaction is = CaOOCCH2CH2COONA?

anonymous · Answer

and for 2 methyl is = HOOCCH(CH3)CH2CO2H after reaction is = NaOOCCH(cH3)CH2COOca

anonymous · Answer

sorry the na is ca*

anonymous · Answer

im not sure about the eq

aaronq · Answer

there should be only 1 $Ca^{2+}$ for every 2 charges from the acids

anonymous · Answer

is the eq for butanedioic and methyl correct?

aaronq · Answer

yes

aaronq · Answer

you have to remove 1 of the Ca's though