Malic acid

Description

White, water-soluble crystals that occur naturally in apples and other fruits. Malic acid is used as a chelating and buffering agent. The weak acid is also used to acidify food and to age wine.

Synonyms and Related Terms

apple acid; hydroxysuccinic acid; hydroxybutanedioic acid

Chemical structure

Risks

• Combustible.
• Contact may cause irritation.
• ThermoFisher: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Soluble in water, methanol, diethyl ether, acetone and ethanol. Slightly soluble in ether. Insoluble in benzene.

pH = 2.2 (0.1 N solution)

Composition	COOHCH2CH(OH)COOH
CAS	617-48-1 (dl form)
Melting Point	131-132 C
Density	1.601 g/ml
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 134.09

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 55

• 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 5747

• Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past & Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985

• Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: pH = 2.2 (0.1 N solution)