Identify the products formed when fumaric acid reacts with an excess of hot, concentrated, acidified manganate(VII).
Draw the repeat unit for the addition polymer poly(fumaric acid).
Draw the repeat unit of the polyester formed when fumaric acid reacts with ethane-1,2-diol, $(\text{CH}_2\text{OH})_2$. The ester linkage should be shown fully displayed.
Explain why polyesters usually biodegrade more readily than polyalkenes.
Fumaric acid reacts with cold, dilute, acidified manganate(VII) to produce compound $P$. Only three stereoisomers of $P$ are possible. One stereoisomer is shown. Complete the three-dimensional diagrams in the boxes to show the other two stereoisomers of $P$.
The enzyme fumarase catalyses the reaction of fumarate ions, $\text{C}_4\text{H}_2\text{O}_4^{2-}$, with water to give malate ions, $\text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_5^{2-}$.\n\n$\text{C}_4\text{H}_2\text{O}_4^{2-} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_5^{2-}$\n\nDescribe, using a suitably labelled diagram, how an enzyme such as fumarase can catalyse a reaction.