Lactic Acid

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    50-21-5

    Molecular formula
    C3H6O3

    SMILES
    CC(C(=O)O)O

    Safety labels

    Corrosive
    Corrosive

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Caramellic 55.23%
    Odorless 52.77%
    Buttery 50.78%
    Sour 47.31%
    Milky 36.46%
    Creamy 33.49%
    Sharp 31.52%
    Dairy 29.79%
    Burnt 26.46%
    Fatty 26.33%

     

    Flavor
    Odorless 71.28%
    Sour 49.41%
    Acidic 40.16%
    Very mild 29.72%
    Caramellic 27.93%
    Buttery 25.83%
    Sharp 24.46%
    Pungent 23.19%
    Rancid 23.09%
    Cheese 22.8%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    -0.7

    pKa est.
    6.19 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    90.08 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 16.8 °C
    • Crystals from ether and isopropyl ether; melting point = 52.8 °C; pK = 3.83; soluble in water, alcohol, acetone, ether, glycerol; practically insoluble in chloroform. /D-lactic acid/
    • Crystals from acetic acid or chloroform; melting point = 53 °C; pK = 3.79 at 25 °C. /L-lactic acid/
    • 17 °C

    Boiling point

    • 122 °C at 1.50E+01 mm Hg
    • 122 °C at 15 mm Hg

    Flash point

    • 104.26 ˚C est.
    • 113 °C (235 °F) - closed cup
    • 110 °C c.c.

    Solubility expt.

    • 1000000 mg/L
    • Completely soluble in water
    • Miscible with water
    • Completely soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, and other organic solvents which are miscible with water. It is virtually insoluble in benzene and chloroform.
    • Miscible with glycerol
    • Soluble in alcohol and furfurol; slightly soluble in ether; insoluble in chloroform, petroleum ether, carbon disulfide. Miscible with alcohol-ether solution.
    • Solubility in water: miscible
    • miscible with water, glycerol, glycols, oils
    • miscible at room temperature (in ethanol)

  • Synonyms

    • lactic acid
    • 2-hydroxypropanoic acid
    • DL-Lactic acid
    • 50-21-5
    • 2-hydroxypropionic acid
    • lactate
    • Milk acid
    • Tonsillosan
    • Racemic lactic acid
    • Ordinary lactic acid
    • Ethylidenelactic acid
    • Lactovagan
    • Acidum lacticum
    • Milchsaeure
    • Lactic acid, dl-
    • Kyselina mlecna
    • Lacticum acidum
    • Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-
    • DL-Milchsaeure
    • Lactic acid USP
    • 598-82-3
    • (+/-)-Lactic acid
    • Aethylidenmilchsaeure
    • 1-Hydroxyethanecarboxylic acid
    • alpha-Hydroxypropionic acid
    • Lactic acid (natural)
    • (RS)-2-Hydroxypropionsaeure
    • FEMA No. 2611
    • Milchsaure
    • Kyselina 2-hydroxypropanova
    • Lurex
    • Propionic acid, 2-hydroxy-
    • Purac FCC 80
    • Purac FCC 88
    • Cheongin samrakhan
    • DL- lactic acid
    • FEMA Number 2611
    • CCRIS 2951
    • HSDB 800
    • Cheongin Haewoohwan
    • Cheongin Haejanghwan
    • SY-83
    • 2-Hydroxypropionicacid
    • (+-)-2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
    • Biolac
    • NSC 367919
    • Lactic acid, tech grade
    • Chem-Cast
    • alpha-Hydroxypropanoic acid
    • AI3-03130
    • HIPURE 88
    • EINECS 200-018-0
    • EINECS 209-954-4
    • MFCD00004520
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 128929
    • Lactic acid,buffered
    • NSC-367919
    • UNII-3B8D35Y7S4
    • 2-Hydroxy-2-methylacetic acid
    • BRN 5238667
    • INS NO.270
    • DTXSID7023192
    • (+/-)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid
    • CHEBI:78320
    • INS-270
    • 2 Hydroxypropanoic Acid
    • 3B8D35Y7S4
    • E 270
    • LACTIC ACID (+-)
    • .alpha.-Hydroxypropanoic acid
    • .alpha.-Hydroxypropionic acid
    • DTXCID003192
    • E-270
    • EC 200-018-0
    • NCGC00090972-01
    • 2-hydroxy-propionic acid
    • C01432
    • DL-Lactic Acid (90%)
    • Milchsaure [German]
    • Lactic acid [JAN]
    • Kyselina mlecna [Czech]
    • Propanoic acid, hydroxy-
    • CAS-50-21-5
    • (R)-2-Hydroxy-propionic acid;H-D-Lac-OH
    • 2 Hydroxypropionic Acid
    • 26811-96-1
    • Kyselina 2-hydroxypropanova [Czech]
    • Lactic acid [USP:JAN]
    • lactasol
    • 1-Hydroxyethane 1-carboxylic acid
    • acido lactico
    • DL-Milchsaure
    • MFCD00064266
    • (2RS)-2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
    • Lactate (Standard)
    • Lactate (TN)
    • 4b5w
    • Propanoic acid, (+-)
    • DL-Lactic Acid, Racemic
    • LACTIC ACID (II)
    • (.+/-.)-Lactic acid
    • Lactic acid (7CI,8CI)
    • Lactic acid (JP17/USP)
    • Lactic acid, 85%, FCC
    • Lactic Acid, Racemic, USP
    • NCIOpen2_000884
    • (+-)-LACTIC ACID
    • DL-LACTIC ACID [MI]
    • LACTIC ACID [WHO-IP]
    • (RS)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid
    • LACTIC ACID, DL-(II)
    • LACTICUM ACIDUM [HPUS]
    • 1-hydroxyethane carboxylic acid
    • 33X04XA5AT
    • DL-Lactic Acid (90per cent)
    • L-(+)-Lactic acid, 98%
    • CHEMBL1200559
    • Lactic acid, natural, >=85%
    • PROPANOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-, (2S)-, HOMOPOLYMER
    • BDBM23233
    • HY-B2227R
    • L-lactic acid or dl-lactic acid
    • Lactic Acid, 85 Percent, FCC
    • LACTIC ACID, DL- [II]
    • DL-Lactic acid, ~90% (T)
    • DL-Lactic acid, AR, >=88%
    • DL-Lactic acid, LR, >=88%
    • DL- LACTIC ACID [WHO-DD]

  • Applications

    Lactic acid (CAS 50-21-5) is a mild, naturally occurring organic acid originally isolated from sour milk but now manufactured on an industrial scale by fermenting renewable carbohydrates, and its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability enable remarkably broad use: in food processing it serves as an acidity regulator, preservative, flavor enhancer and fermentation note in beverages, bread, cheese and cured meats; in pharmaceuticals and medical care it adjusts injection pH, acts as a humectant excipient, provides antimicrobial action in mouth-rinses and dialysis fluids, and creates optimal media for probiotic cultures; in cosmetics it is a well-known alpha-hydroxy acid for exfoliation, skin brightening, pH balancing and moisturization inside creams, serums and intimate washes; in chemical industries it is the key monomer for poly(lactic acid) PLA – a degradable bioplastic for packaging, fibers, implantable devices and 3-D printing – and a precursor for lactate esters that work as green solvents, plasticizers and metal cleaners; lactic acid also finds roles in leather tanning, textile dyeing, concrete admixture, wastewater conditioning, corrosion inhibition, and, because it stems from renewable feedstocks, it increasingly underpins circular-economy and sustainable manufacturing schemes.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 23.37
    methanol 50.53
    isopropanol 10.09
    water 685.05
    ethyl acetate 2.48
    n-propanol 11.62
    acetone 7.82
    n-butanol 11.67
    acetonitrile 4.31
    DMF 78.33
    toluene 0.67
    isobutanol 8.3
    1,4-dioxane 10.56
    methyl acetate 2.77
    THF 9.18
    2-butanone 3.79
    n-pentanol 5.75
    sec-butanol 9.62
    n-hexane 0.9
    ethylene glycol 82.06
    NMP 50.54
    cyclohexane 1.5
    DMSO 83.19
    n-butyl acetate 1.1
    n-octanol 3.03
    chloroform 1.15
    n-propyl acetate 1.28
    acetic acid 64.9
    dichloromethane 1.81
    cyclohexanone 5.53
    propylene glycol 43.75
    isopropyl acetate 1.94
    DMAc 45.1
    2-ethoxyethanol 26.59
    isopentanol 11.04
    n-heptane 1.05
    ethyl formate 7.68
    1,2-dichloroethane 1.9
    n-hexanol 3.92
    2-methoxyethanol 63.56
    isobutyl acetate 0.63
    tetrachloromethane 1.13
    n-pentyl acetate 1.89
    transcutol 33.31
    n-heptanol 4.36
    ethylbenzene 0.71
    MIBK 3.16
    2-propoxyethanol 12.08
    tert-butanol 17.27
    MTBE 4.42
    2-butoxyethanol 13.49
    propionic acid 13.23
    o-xylene 1.55
    formic acid 228.68
    diethyl ether 2.94
    m-xylene 0.97
    p-xylene 0.93
    chlorobenzene 0.44
    dimethyl carbonate 3.5
    n-octane 0.55
    formamide 169.74
    cyclopentanone 6.88
    2-pentanone 3.83
    anisole 1.88
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 4.17
    gamma-butyrolactone 8.95
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 28.0
    pyridine 3.17
    3-pentanone 2.46
    furfural 15.58
    n-dodecane 0.32
    diethylene glycol 35.44
    diisopropyl ether 1.4
    tert-amyl alcohol 16.17
    acetylacetone 5.81
    n-hexadecane 0.32
    acetophenone 2.41
    methyl propionate 2.95
    isopentyl acetate 1.21
    trichloroethylene 2.04
    n-nonanol 2.86
    cyclohexanol 7.73
    benzyl alcohol 4.03
    2-ethylhexanol 2.36
    isooctanol 3.66
    dipropyl ether 1.74
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 0.67
    ethyl lactate 3.59
    propylene carbonate 4.93
    n-methylformamide 41.31
    2-pentanol 6.58
    n-pentane 1.13
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 7.2
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 2.63
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 13.35
    mesitylene 1.1
    ε-caprolactone 6.26
    p-cymene 0.92
    epichlorohydrin 6.23
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 0.9
    2-aminoethanol 67.66
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 42.77
    sulfolane 24.58
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 0.92
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 6.24
    n-hexyl acetate 2.22
    isooctane 0.51
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 19.03
    sec-butyl acetate 0.96
    tert-butyl acetate 3.06
    decalin 0.6
    glycerin 105.38
    diglyme 26.96
    acrylic acid 19.28
    isopropyl myristate 1.12
    n-butyric acid 12.61
    acetyl acetate 2.31
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 2.67
    ethyl propionate 1.38
    nitromethane 37.4
    1,2-diethoxyethane 3.47
    benzonitrile 1.46
    trioctyl phosphate 2.11
    1-bromopropane 0.89
    gamma-valerolactone 18.56
    n-decanol 2.29
    triethyl phosphate 1.42
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 4.75
    propionitrile 2.13
    vinylene carbonate 4.31
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 17.29
    DMS 1.76
    cumene 0.89
    2-octanol 2.56
    2-hexanone 1.82
    octyl acetate 1.65
    limonene 1.35
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 18.94
    ethyl orthosilicate 1.58
    tributyl phosphate 1.87
    diacetone alcohol 12.71
    N,N-dimethylaniline 3.23
    acrylonitrile 3.46
    aniline 2.37
    1,3-propanediol 56.89
    bromobenzene 0.32
    dibromomethane 1.17
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 2.45
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 1.47
    tetrabutyl urea 3.7
    diisobutyl methanol 2.36
    2-phenylethanol 2.81
    styrene 0.64
    dioctyl adipate 2.01
    dimethyl sulfate 9.37
    ethyl butyrate 1.26
    methyl lactate 10.04
    butyl lactate 4.28
    diethyl carbonate 0.86
    propanediol butyl ether 17.2
    triethyl orthoformate 1.49
    p-tert-butyltoluene 0.99
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 6.06
    morpholine 14.87
    tert-butylamine 7.66
    n-dodecanol 1.82
    dimethoxymethane 14.64
    ethylene carbonate 3.4
    cyrene 14.9
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 3.08
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 0.85
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 0.85
    4-methylpyridine 2.7
    dibutyl ether 1.52
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 2.36
    DEF 13.23
    dimethyl isosorbide 11.67
    tetrachloroethylene 3.25
    eugenol 7.89
    triacetin 3.73
    span 80 10.8
    1,4-butanediol 23.23
    1,1-dichloroethane 0.86
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 6.33
    methyl formate 25.86
    2-methyl-1-butanol 10.73
    n-decane 0.47
    butyronitrile 2.89
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 2.73
    1-chlorooctane 0.78
    1-chlorotetradecane 0.45
    n-nonane 0.5
    undecane 0.37
    tert-butylcyclohexane 0.5
    cyclooctane 0.92
    cyclopentanol 9.86
    tetrahydropyran 4.04
    tert-amyl methyl ether 5.04
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 24.75
    1-hexene 1.13
    2-isopropoxyethanol 11.68
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 35.69
    methyl butyrate 2.64

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction