AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Maleic anhydride is produced by oxidation of benzene or a C4 hydrocarbon such as butane in the presence of a vanadium oxide catalyst. Maleic anhydride can be converted to maleic acid by hydrolysis and to esters by alcoholysis.

Detailed explanation-2: -Maleic anhydride for synthesis. CAS 108-31-6, pH 0.8 (550 g/l, H₂O, 20 °C) Hydrolysis.

Detailed explanation-3: -Maleic anhydride is produced by the thermal oxidation of n-butane at an elevated temperature and pressure, in this case 375°C and 20 bar. A catalyst, vanadium phosphorous oxide, assists in this reaction, adsorbing oxygen onto its surface to enable its reaction with n-butane.

Detailed explanation-4: -Maleic acid is a linear four-carbon molecule with carboxylate groups on both ends and a double bond between the central carbon atoms. The anhydride of maleic acid is a cyclic molecule containing five atoms.