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phosphoric acid

(Encyclopedia)phosphoric acid, any one of three chemical compounds made up of phosphorus, oxygen, and hydrogen (see acids and bases). The most common, orthophosphoric acid, H3PO4, is usually simply called phosphori...

formic acid

(Encyclopedia)formic acid or methanoic acid mĕthˌənōˈĭk [key], HCO2H, a colorless, corrosive liquid with a sharp odor; it boils at 100.7℃ and solidifies at 8.4℃. It has the lowest molecular weight and is ...

glutamic acid

(Encyclopedia)CE5 glutamic acid glo͞otămˈĭk [key], organic compound, one of the 20 amino acids commonly found in animal proteins. Only the l-stereoisomer occurs in mammalian proteins. Like aspartic acid, glu...

acid anhydride

(Encyclopedia)acid anhydride ănhīˈdrīd, –drəd [key], chemical compound that reacts with water to form an acid (see acids and bases). Anhydrides of inorganic acids are usually oxides of nonmetallic elements. ...

tartaric acid

(Encyclopedia)tartaric acid, HO2CCHOHCHOHCO2H, white crystalline dicarboxylic acid. It occurs as three distinct isomers, the dextro-, levo-, and meso- forms. The dextro- and levo- forms are optically active; the me...

uric acid

(Encyclopedia)uric acid yo͝orˈĭk [key], white, odorless, tasteless crystalline substance formed as a result of purine degradation in man, other primates, dalmatians, birds, snakes, and lizards. The last three gr...

acetic acid

(Encyclopedia)acetic acid əsēˈtĭk [key], CH3CO2H, colorless liquid that has a characteristic pungent odor, boils at 118℃, and is miscible with water in all proportions; it is a weak organic carboxylic acid (s...

citric acid

(Encyclopedia)citric acid or 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, HO2CCH2C(OH)(CO2H)CH2CO2H, an organic carboxylic acid containing three carboxyl groups; it is a solid at room temperature, melts at 153℃, an...

picric acid

(Encyclopedia)picric acid trīˌnīˌtrōfēˈnōl [key], C6H2(NO2)3OH, a toxic yellow crystalline solid that melts at 122℃ and is soluble in most organic solvents. Picric acid is a derivative of phenol. It react...

pyroligneous acid

(Encyclopedia)pyroligneous acid pīˌrəlĭgˈnēəs [key], a dark liquid that is essentially a mixture of acetic acid and methanol (wood alcohol) and is obtained in the destructive distillation of wood. It once se...