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maleic acid definition

ma·leic acid (mə lē′ik)

a colorless, crystalline, poisonous acid, HOOCCH: CHCOOH, an isomer of fumaric acid, used in organic syntheses, in textile dyeing, etc.

Etymology: < Fr maléique, altered (1834) by T. J. Pelouze (1807-67), Fr chemist < malique, malic (acid), to indicate a relationship between the two acids

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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