If maleic acid could be represented as H2Ma, write the 2 equations for its reaction with NaOH in the space below (showing the sequential neutralization of each acidic proton):

Question

1) H2Ma + NaOH --> H3O + MaNa (molecular)

2) H2Ma + OH- --> H2O + MaH- (net ionic)

Note: the "-" is the superscript.

Answer 1

1) H2Ma + NaOH --> H2O + NaHMa

2) NaHMa + NaOH --> H2O + Na2Ma

I think is what they are after so you end up with the disodium salt.