Melting point - physical charterstics of monocarboxylic acids
(a) The melting points of carboxylic acids do not change smoothly from one member to other member.
(b) The melting point of the acids comprising even number of carbon atoms are higher as compared to those consisting of an odd number immediately above and below them.
(c) The acids along with even number of carbon atoms comprise the - COOH group and the terminal - CH3 group on the opposite side of the carbon chain.
(d) In the case of odd numbers, the two groups lie on similar side of the chain.