Description_x000D_ General description_x000D_ Maleic acid (MA) is a dicarboxylic acid that undergoes esterification with ethanol in the presence of cation-exchange resin catalysts to form diethyl maleate. Its crystalline structure has been analyzed. Reaction kinetics and mechanism of the isomerization of maleic acid to fumaric acid in the presence of ceric and bromide ions has been investigated. The reaction mechanism and reactivity ratios for the radical copolymerization of maleic acid with styrene have been determined._x000D_ Application_x000D_ Maleic acid has been used in the preparation of tris-maleate buffer and sodium maleate buffer. It has also been used for the pretreatment of poplar tracheid cell walls for the spectroscopic analysis of lignin. It may be used to synthesize superswelling acrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels._x000D_ Packaging_x000D_ 1 kg in poly bottle_x000D_ 100, 500 g in poly bottle_x000D_ 25 kg in poly drum_x000D_ Quality_x000D_ Repurified_x000D_ Legal Information_x000D_ ReagentPlus is a registered trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC