Malonic acid and succinic acids are distinguished by:

Options

A. Heating
B. `NaHCO_(3)`
C. Both (A) & (B)
D. None of these

Answer

To distinguish between malonic acid and succinic acid, we can analyze their behavior upon heating. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Structures
- **Malonic Acid**: It is a dicarboxylic acid with the formula C3H4O4 (HOOC-CH2-COOH).
- **Succinic Acid**: It is also a dicarboxylic acid, but with the formula C4H6O4 (HOOC-CH2-CH2-COOH).

### Step 2: Heating Malonic Acid
- When malonic acid is heated, it undergoes decarboxylation. This means that one of the carboxyl (-COOH) groups is removed in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2).
- The reaction can be summarized as follows:
\[ \text{Malonic Acid} \xrightarrow{\text{Heat}} \text{Acetic Acid} + \text{CO}_2 \]
- The product formed is acetic acid (CH3COOH).

### Step 3: Heating Succinic Acid
- When succinic acid is heated, it does not undergo decarboxylation like malonic acid. Instead, it tends to form an anhydride, specifically succinic anhydride.
- The reaction can be summarized as:
\[ \text{Succinic Acid} \xrightarrow{\text{Heat}} \text{Succinic Anhydride} \]

### Step 4: Conclusion
- The key difference in the behavior of malonic acid and succinic acid upon heating allows us to distinguish between them.
- Therefore, the process of heating is the method used to distinguish malonic acid from succinic acid.

### Final Answer
Malonic acid and succinic acids are distinguished by heating.

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