Characterization, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of transition metal succinates, MC2H4C2O4 center dot nH(2)O (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)), the thermal behaviour of succinic acid (C4H6O4) and its sodium salt (Na2C2H4C2O4 center dot 6H(2)O) were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy, TG-FTIR system, elemental analysis and complexometry. For the hydrated compounds the dehydration and the thermal decomposition of the anhydrous compounds occur in a single step. For the sodium succinate the final residue up to 545 degrees C is sodium carbonate, while the transition metal succinates the final residues are Mn3O4, Fe2O3, Co3O4, NiO, CuO and ZnO, respectively. The results also provided information concerning the thermal behaviour and identification of gaseous products evolved during the heating of these compounds. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.