fumaric acid

Also known as trans-but-2-enedioic acid, (2E)-2-butenedioic acid, (E)-2-butenedioic acid, trans-1,2-ethylenedicarboxylic acid, E297, but-2-enedioic acid, (2E)-But-2-enedioic acid, (E)-2-Butenedioate

chemical compound

Chemical data

Formula: C4H4O4
Molecular weight: 116.07 g/mol
IUPAC name: (E)-but-2-enedioate;hydron
SMILES: [H+].[H+].C(=C/C(=O)[O-])\C(=O)[O-]
InChIKey: VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-OWOJBTEDSA-N
Polar surface area: 80.3 Å²
H-bond donors: 2
H-bond acceptors: 4
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

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Encyclopedic overview

Fumaric acid or trans-butenedioic acid is an organic compound with the formula HO2CCH=CHCO2H. A white solid, fumaric acid occurs widely in nature. It has a fruit-like taste and has been used as a food additive. Its E number is E297. The salts and esters are known as fumarates. Fumarate can also refer to the C 4H 2O 4 ion (in solution). Fumaric acid is the trans isomer of butenedioic acid, while maleic acid is the cis isomer.

Biosynthesis and occurrence

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “fumaric acid” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.