Nomenclature
CAS number: 79-14-1
2-Hydroxyacetic acid; hydroxyethanoic acid.
C
2H
4O
3; mol wt 76.05.
C 31.59%, H 5.30%, O 63.11%.
Description and references
Constituent of sugar cane juice. Made by the
action of NaOH on monochloroacetic acid; also by electrolytic reduction
of oxalic acid. Review: Sales brochure on hydroxyacetic
acid from E. I. du Pont.
Properties
Odorless, somewhat hygroscopic crystals, mp 80°. pK (25°) 3.83. Sol in water, methanol,
alcohol, acetone, acetic acid, ether. pH of aq solns: 2.5 (0.5%);
2.33 (1.0%); 2.16 (2.0%); 1.91 (5.0%); 1.73 (10.0%). LD50 orally in rats: 1.95 g/kg, H. F. Smyth et al., J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 23, 259 (1941).Caution
Mild irritant to skin, mucous membranes.Use
In the processing of textiles, leather, and metals;
in pH control, and wherever a cheap organic acid is needed, e.g. in
the manuf of adhesives, in copper brightening, decontamination cleaning,
dyeing, electroplating, in pickling, cleaning and chemical milling
of metals.