When succinic acid is heated, product formed is

Options

A. Succinic anhydride
B. Acetic acid
C. `CO_(2)` and methane
D. Propionic acid

Explanation

To determine the product formed when succinic acid is heated, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the structure of succinic acid
Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with the formula \( \text{C}_4\text{H}_6\text{O}_4 \) or structurally represented as \( \text{HOOC-CH}_2\text{-CH}_2\text{-COOH} \). It contains two carboxylic acid groups (-COOH).

### Step 2: Understand the heating process
When succinic acid is heated, it undergoes a dehydration reaction. This means that water (H₂O) is removed from the molecule.

### Step 3: Write the dehydration reaction
During the dehydration of succinic acid, one molecule of water is eliminated from the two carboxylic acid groups. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{HOOC-CH}_2\text{-CH}_2\text{-COOH} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]
Where \( \text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_3 \) is the product formed, which is succinic anhydride.

### Step 4: Identify the product
The product formed from the dehydration of succinic acid is succinic anhydride, which has the structure:
\[ \text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_3 \text{ or } \text{(CH}_2\text{)}_2\text{C(=O)O} \]

### Conclusion
When succinic acid is heated, the product formed is succinic anhydride.

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