Why is oxalic acid called ethane-dioic acid

[ritwik06]

Why is oxalic acid called ethane-dioic acid even if it has nothing else but 2 carboxylic group??:yuck:

 

[bomba923]

By convention, IUPAC nomenclature takes all carbons into consideration.
Carboxylic acids are nothing special //

For example, oxalic acid is a dicarboxylic acid containing two carbons;
hence, it is (systematically) named "ethanedioic acid" by IUPAC convention
(hyphenation is not required here).

Similarly,
malonic acid is "propanedioic acid",
succinic acid is "butanedioic acid",
glutaric acid is "pentanedioic acid",
adipic acid is "hexanedioic acid",
pimelic acid is "heptanedioic acid",
suberic acid is "octanedioic acid",
azelaic acid is "nonanedioic acid",
sebacic acid is "decanedioic acid",

..and so on...

 

[Blueshift5]

Oxalic acid is called ethane-dioic acid because it contains two carboxylic groups, which are functional groups consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group. The prefix "ethane" comes from the fact that the molecule has two carbon atoms, and "dioic" indicates the presence of two carboxylic groups. The name "oxalic" comes from the fact that this acid was first isolated from the plant genus Oxalis.

Even though oxalic acid only contains two carboxylic groups, these groups are important in determining the properties and behavior of the molecule. Carboxylic groups are highly polar and acidic, meaning they can donate a hydrogen ion (H+) in solution. This gives oxalic acid its characteristic sour taste and makes it a useful acid in various industrial processes.

Additionally, the presence of two carboxylic groups allows oxalic acid to form strong hydrogen bonds with other molecules, which can affect its solubility and reactivity. These functional groups also play a role in the formation of salts and esters of oxalic acid, which have their own unique properties and uses.

In summary, while oxalic acid may seem simple with just two carboxylic groups, these functional groups are essential in defining the molecule and its behavior. Therefore, it is appropriate to refer to it as ethane-dioic acid based on its chemical structure.