Hexanoic acid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hexanoic acid
IUPAC name	hexanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	[142-62-1]
PubChem	8892
SMILES	CCCCCC(=O)O
Properties
Molecular formula	C6H12O2
Molar mass	116.15828
Density	0.920 g/cm3
Melting point	-3 °C
Boiling point	202-203 °C
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Hexanoic acid (common name caproic acid), is the carboxylic acid derived from hexane with the general formula C₅H₁₁COOH. It is a colorless oily liquid with an odor reminiscent of goats or other barnyard animals. It is a fatty acid 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 odor.^[1]

The salts and esters of this acid are known as hexanoates or caproates.

[edit] References

1. ^ Ginkgo.html

v • d • e Lipids: fatty acids Saturated Butyric • Hexanoic • Caprylic • Decanoic • Lauric • Myristic • Palmitic • Stearic • Arachidic • Behenic • Lignoceric n−3 Unsaturated α-Linolenic • Stearidonic • Eicosapentaenoic • Docosahexaenoic n−6 Unsaturated Linoleic • γ-Linolenic • Dihomo-γ-linolenic • Arachidonic n−9 Unsaturated Oleic • Erucic • Nervonic