How do the products obtained by the reaction of maleic acid and fumaric acid with bromine differ?

First, let's draw the structures of maleic acid and fumaric acid, which are both isomers of C4H4O4. Maleic acid: HOOC-CH=CH-COOH (cis-isomer) Fumaric acid: HOOC-CH=CH-COOH (trans-isomer) Notice the difference in the arrangement of the carboxylic acid groups (-COOH).

Now, let's display the reactions of maleic acid and fumaric acid with bromine. Bromine (Br2) is an electrophilic addition reagent, and both reactions involve the addition of Br2 across the double bond. Reaction of maleic acid with bromine: HOOC-CH=CH-COOH + Br2 -> HOOC-CH(Br)-CH(Br)-COOH Reaction of fumaric acid with bromine: HOOC-CH=CH-COOH + Br2 -> HOOC-C(Br)=CH-C(Br)OOH

Now that we can see the products of each reaction, let's compare them: Product from maleic acid reaction: HOOC-CH(Br)-CH(Br)-COOH Product from fumaric acid reaction: HOOC-C(Br)=CH-C(Br)OOH The reaction of maleic acid with bromine gives a product with two bromine atoms added to the same carbon, while the reaction of fumaric acid with bromine gives a product with two bromine atoms added in a 1,2-addition pattern, meaning that each bromine atom is connected to a different carbon. In summary, the products obtained from the reactions of maleic acid and fumaric acid with bromine differ in the arrangement of the bromine atoms. Maleic acid's reaction results in a product with two bromine atoms added to the same carbon, whereas fumaric acid's reaction yields a product with the bromine atoms added to different carbons in a 1,2-addition pattern.