Hexanoic acid

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Hexanoic acid
IUPAC name	hexanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	142-62-1 Y
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
Solubility in methanol	methanol 7.98 M [1]
Acidity (pKa)	4.88
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox 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.^[2]

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

Three such acids are named after goats: caproic (C6), caprylic (C8), capric (C10), totaling 15% in goat milk fat.

[edit] References

1. ^ Solubility of hexanoic acid in methanol
2. ^ Ginkgo.html

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