Propanoic acid
Propanoic acid is an organic compound with the molecular formula C3H6O2.
- Formula
- C3H6O2
- Functional group
- Carboxylic acids
- Molar mass
- 74.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propionic acid, methylacetic acid, ethylformic acid, Carboxyethane, Metacetonic acid, Luprosil
Overview
Propanoic acid is an organic compound with the molecular formula C3H6O2.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C3H6O2
- Functional group
- Carboxylic acids
- Molar mass
- 74.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propionic acid, methylacetic acid, ethylformic acid, Carboxyethane, Metacetonic acid, Luprosil
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CCC(=O)O
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C3H6O2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3,(H,4,5)
- PubChem CID
- 1032
Properties
- Melting Point
- -21.5 °C
- Boiling Point
- 141.1 °C
- Density
- Critical density: 0.315 g/ml
- Water solubility
- Solubility in water: very soluble
Related compounds
- Carboxylic acids
Propanoic acid is an organic compound with the molecular formula C3H6O2.
Connected reactions
- Oxidation: Propanal → Propanoic acid
Propanal is oxidised to propanoic acid.
- Oxidation: Propan-1-ol → Propanoic acid
Propan-1-ol is oxidised to propanoic acid.
- Nitrile hydrolysis: Propanenitrile → Propanoic acid
Acid-assisted water addition converts the nitrile through an amide before hydrolysis gives the acid. The nitrile carbon becomes the carboxyl carbon, while its nitrogen leaves the organic skeleton as ammonium.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Propanoic acid (CID 1032)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanoic acid — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1032#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1401
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanoic acid — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1032#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1401
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanoic acid — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1032#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1243
- ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Propanoic acid — solubilityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1032#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.