Hexanoic acid
Hexanoic Acid
Hexanoic acid (pronounced: hex-uh-noh-ick ass-id), also known as caproic acid, is a carboxylic acid derived from hexane with the general formula C5H11COOH. It is a colorless oily liquid with an odor that is fatty, cheesy, waxy, and like that of goats or other barnyard animals. It is a relatively simple compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Etymology
The term "hexanoic acid" comes from the Greek word "hex", meaning "six", and the Latin word "anoic", meaning "of or pertaining to fat". This is because hexanoic acid has six carbon atoms and is a fatty acid.
Structure and Properties
Hexanoic acid is a saturated fatty acid that is found naturally in various animal fats and oils, and is one of the chemicals that gives the decomposing fleshy seed coat of the ginkgo its characteristic unpleasant smell. It is also one of the components of vanilla. The primary use of hexanoic acid is in the manufacture of its esters for artificial flavors, and in the manufacture of hexyl derivatives, such as hexylphenols.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hexanoic acid
- Wikipedia's article - Hexanoic acid
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