Decarboxylation of malonic acid in aqueous solutions

The rate of decarboxylation of malonic acid in aqueous solutions was studied over a range of concentrations, pH\u27s, and temperatures. The catalytic effect of various divalent metallic ions was also studied at a pH of 0.3. these studies did not support a truly unimolecular decomposition as the experimental order was found to be slightly greater than one. An empirical relation for the rate of decarboxylation was formulated in which the undissociated malonic acid and the monovalent malonate ion were the reactive species. A possible mechanism of decarboxylation due to solvent activation was postulated. No pronounced catalytic effect due to the divalent metal ions was observed --Abstract, page ii