Hydroxyacetic acid
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Description
Colorless, deliquescent crystals that occur naturally as a component in sugarcane. Hydroxyacetic acid, or glycolic acid, is a weak acid. It is sold commercially as a 70% solution. It is used in processing and dyeing textiles and Leather. Hydroxyacetic acid is also used for cleaning, polishing, and soldering metals.
Synonyms and Related Terms
glycolic acid; hydroxyethanoic acid
Risks
- Corrosive.
- Contact causes irritation and burns.
- ThermoFisher: SDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
Soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, ether.
| Composition | CH2OHCOOH |
|---|---|
| CAS | 79-14-1 |
| Melting Point | 80 C |
| Density | 1.27 g.ml |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 76.05 |
Resources and Citations
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 4508