carboxylic acid

/ˌˈkɑrˈbɑkˌsɪlɪk ˌæsəd/

Other forms: carboxylic acids

Definitions of carboxylic acid

1. noun

   an organic acid characterized by one or more carboxyl groups
   types:

   acetic acid, ethanoic acid

   a colorless pungent liquid widely used in manufacturing plastics and pharmaceuticals

   adipic acid, hexanedioic acid

   a carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of nylon

   mucic acid

   a solid acid (C6H10O8) found in milk or sugar

   octanedioic acid, suberic acid

   a dicarboxylic acid found in cork

   succinic acid

   a dicarboxylic acid (C4H6O4) active in metabolic processes

   saccharic acid

   a white dicarboxylic acid formed from oxidation of sugar or starch

   decanedioic acid, sebacic acid

   a dicarboxylic acid used to make resins

   sorbic acid

   a white crystalline carboxylic acid used as a preservative

   pentanoic acid, valeric acid

   a clear liquid carboxylic acid used in perfumes and drugs

   fatty acid

   any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; fatty acids are simple molecules built around a series of carbon atoms linked together in a chain of 12 to 22 carbon atoms

   benzoic acid

   a white crystalline solid occurring in many resins

   propanoic acid, propionic acid

   a liquid fatty acid found in milk and sweat and in fuel distillates

   lactic acid

   a clear odorless hygroscopic syrupy carboxylic acid found in sour milk and in many fruits

   acrylic acid, propenoic acid

   an unsaturated liquid carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of acrylic resins

   acetum

   a dilute solution of acetic acid that is used as a solvent (e.g. for a drug)

   saturated fatty acid

   a fatty acid whose carbon chain cannot absorb any more hydrogen atoms; found chiefly in animal fats

   unsaturated fatty acid

   a fatty acid whose carbon chain can absorb additional hydrogen atoms

   trans fatty acid

   a fatty acid that has been produced by hydrogenating an unsaturated fatty acid (and so changing its shape); found in processed foods such as margarine and fried foods and puddings and commercially baked goods and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils

   trichloracetic acid, trichloroacetic acid

   a strong acid made by chlorinating acetic acid

   vinegar

   dilute acetic acid

   type of:

   acid

   any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt