butyric acid

butyric acid
either of two isomeric acids having the formula C4H8O2, esp. a rancid liquid occurring chiefly in spoiled butter, whose esters are used as flavorings. Also called butanoic acid.
[1820-30]

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also called  butanoic acid 

      a fatty acid occurring in the form of esters (ester) in animal fats and plant oils. As a glyceride (an ester containing an acid and glycerol), it makes up 3–4 percent of butter; the disagreeable odour of rancid butter is that of hydrolysis of the butyric acid glyceride. The acid is of considerable commercial importance as a raw material in the manufacture of esters of lower alcohols (alcohol) for use as flavouring agents; its anhydride is used to make cellulose butyrate, a useful plastic. Butyric acid is manufactured by catalyzed air oxidation of butanal (butyraldehyde).

      Butyric acid is a colourless liquid, soluble in water and miscible with common organic solvents; it freezes at −7.9 °C (17.8 °F) and boils at 163.5 °C (326.3 °F). An isomer, 2-methylpropanoic (isobutyric) acid, (CH3)2CHCO2H, is found both in the free state and as its ethyl ester in a few plant oils. Although it is commercially less important than butyric acid, it is generally similar to butyric acid; it freezes at −46.1 °C (−51 °F) and boils at 153.2 °C (307.8 °F).

William H. Brown
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • butyric acid — n. a colorless, strong smelling isomeric fatty acid, CH3CH2CH2COOH, found in rancid butter, perspiration, etc. and used to produce fragrances and flavors …   English World dictionary

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  • butyric acid — An acid of unpleasant odor occurring in butter, cod liver oil, sweat, and many other substances. It exists in two forms: normal b. (also written as n b.), butanoic acid, which occurs in combination with glycerol in cow s butter; and isobutyric… …   Medical dictionary

  • butyric acid — noun a) Either of the two isomeric carboxylic acids, normal butyric acid and isobutyric acid, with the chemical formula CHCOOH, occurring in animal milk fat. b) Solely the straight chain isomer of the above, normal butyric acid or n butyric acid …   Wiktionary

  • butyric acid — sviesto rūgštis statusas T sritis chemija formulė H(CH₂)₃COOH atitikmenys: angl. butyric acid rus. масляная кислота ryšiai: sinonimas – butano rūgštis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • butyric acid fermentation — sviestarūgštis rūgimas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Anaerobinėmis sąlygomis vykstantis angliavandenių skilimas, kurio metu susidaro sviesto rūgštis. atitikmenys: angl. butyric acid fermentation rus. маслянокислое брожение …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • butyric acid — [bju: tɪrɪk] noun Chemistry a syrupy liquid organic acid present in rancid butter and in arnica oil; butanoic acid. Origin C19: from L. butyrum (see butter) + ic …   English new terms dictionary

  • butyric acid — noun Date: 1826 either of two isomeric fatty acids C4H8O2; especially the straight chain acid of unpleasant odor normally found in perspiration and rancid butter …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • butyric acid — (= CH3.CH2.CH2.COOH) Acid from which butyrate ion is derived. Smells of rancid butter, hence the name …   Dictionary of molecular biology

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