Malic Acid

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    6915-15-7

    Molecular formula
    C4H6O5

    SMILES
    C(C(C(=O)O)O)C(=O)O

    Safety labels

    Corrosive
    Corrosive

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Odorless 62.95%
    Sour 51.01%
    Caramellic 34.01%
    Sharp 30.71%
    Buttery 27.92%
    Burnt 24.03%
    Cheesy 23.03%
    Milky 21.98%
    Winey 21.7%
    Clean 21.53%

     

    Flavor
    Odorless 77.61%
    Sour 45.48%
    Very mild 36.94%
    Acidic 28.45%
    Mild 27.87%
    Caramellic 26.82%
    Yeast 23.64%
    Bland 23.49%
    Faint 21.25%
    Sweet-like 21.23%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    -1.3

    pKa est.
    5.36 (weak acid)

    Molecular weight
    134.09 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 127-132 °C
    • 130.97 °C /OECD Guideline 102 (Melting point / Melting Range)/
    • Crystals; MP: 101 °C /D(+)-Form/

    Boiling point

    • Decomposes at >225 °C and <235 °C (BP not determinable) /OECD Guideline 103 (Boiling point/boiling range)/

    Flash point

    • 193.33 ˚C est.

    Solubility expt.

    • In water, 55.8 g/100 g water at 20 °C
    • In water, 592,000 mg/L at 25 °C
    • Solubility in g/100 g solvent at 20 °C: methanol 82.70; diethyl ether 0.84; ethanol 45.53; acetone 17-75; dioxane 22.70
    • It is highly soluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, ether, and other polar solvents

  • Synonyms

    • malic acid
    • DL-malic acid
    • 6915-15-7
    • 2-Hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • 617-48-1
    • malate
    • 2-Hydroxysuccinic acid
    • Butanedioic acid, hydroxy-
    • hydroxysuccinic acid
    • Kyselina jablecna
    • hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • Malic acid, DL-
    • Pomalus acid
    • DL-2-hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • Deoxytetraric acid
    • Hydroxybutandisaeure
    • Musashi-no-Ringosan
    • dl-Hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • Caswell No. 537
    • Monohydroxybernsteinsaeure
    • R,S(+-)-Malic acid
    • alpha-Hydroxysuccinic acid
    • Malicum acidum
    • Pomalous acid
    • FDA 2018
    • Succinic acid, hydroxy-
    • FEMA Number 2655
    • 2-Hydroxyethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid
    • Kyselina jablecna [Czech]
    • Malic acid [NF]
    • Aepfelsaeure
    • FEMA No. 2655
    • CCRIS 2950
    • CCRIS 6567
    • (+/-)-Malic acid
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 051101
    • HSDB 1202
    • Kyselina hydroxybutandiova
    • Kyselina hydroxybutandiova [Czech]
    • d,l-malic acid
    • AI3-06292
    • H2mal
    • EINECS 210-514-9
    • EINECS 230-022-8
    • UNII-817L1N4CKP
    • NSC 25941
    • NSC-25941
    • Apple acid
    • 817L1N4CKP
    • CHEBI:6650
    • INS NO.296
    • DTXSID0027640
    • E296
    • INS NO. 296
    • INS-296
    • Malic acid, L-
    • MFCD00064212
    • L-Malic acid-1-13C
    • BUTANEDIOIC ACID, HYDROXY-, (S)-
    • MLS000084707
    • DTXCID107640
    • E-296
    • (+-)-1-Hydroxy-1,2-ethanedicarboxylic acid
    • EC 210-514-9
    • EC 230-022-8
    • NSC25941
    • Malic acid (NF)
    • SMR000019054
    • DL-Apple Acid
    • HYDROXYBUTANEDIOIC ACID, (+/-)-
    • MALIC ACID (II)
    • MALIC ACID [II]
    • (R)-Hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • (S)-Hydroxybutanedioic acid
    • MALIC ACID (USP-RS)
    • MALIC ACID [USP-RS]
    • (+-)-Malic acid
    • R-Malic acid
    • MALIC ACID (EP MONOGRAPH)
    • MALIC ACID (USP IMPURITY)
    • MALIC ACID [EP MONOGRAPH]
    • MALIC ACID [USP IMPURITY]
    • .+-.-Malic acid
    • CAS-6915-15-7
    • (+/-)-2-Hydroxysuccinic acid
    • Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (-)-
    • 2-HYDROXY-SUCCINIC ACID
    • (+-)-Hydroxysuccinic acid
    • Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (+-)-
    • Racemic malic acid
    • 180991-05-3
    • (+/-)-HYDROXYSUCCINIC ACID
    • Malic Acid1524
    • Malic acid (Standard)
    • Opera_ID_805
    • 2-hydroxyl-succinic acid
    • DL-Malic acid, 99%
    • MALIC ACID [MI]
    • MALIC ACID,(DL)
    • 2-Hydroxydicarboxylic acid
    • MALIC ACID [FCC]
    • SCHEMBL856
    • 2-hydroxy-butanedioic acid
    • bmse000046
    • bmse000904
    • MALIC ACID [VANDF]
    • Malic acid-, (L-form)-
    • DL-Malic acid, >=99%
    • Oprea1_130558
    • Oprea1_624131
    • MALIC ACID [WHO-DD]
    • butanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-
    • Butanedioic acid, (.+-.)-
    • GTPL2480
    • CHEMBL1455497
    • BDBM92495
    • HY-Y1311R
    • DL-Malic acid, FCC, >=99%
    • HMS2358H06
    • HMS3371C13
    • DL-Malic acid, analytical standard
    • HY-Y1311
    • STR03457
    • Tox21_201536
    • Tox21_300372
    • s9001
    • STL283959
    • HYDROXYBUTANEDIOIC ACID [HSDB]

  • Applications

    DL-Malic acid (CAS 6915-15-7) is a versatile dicarboxylic acid widely used: in food it acts as an acidulant, fruit flavour enhancer, pH buffer and salt former that gives hard candies, carbonated drinks, juices, drinking yogurts, wines and beers a clean, lingering tartness while suppressing microbes for longer shelf life; in pharmaceuticals it appears in effervescent tablets, cough syrups and oral rehydration solutions to improve solubility, stabilize actives and furnish energy via the Krebs cycle; in cosmetics it serves as a mild exfoliant, pH adjuster, humectant and gloss agent in skin and hair care lines; in animal and aquaculture feeds it acidifies the gut, boosts metabolism and mitigates odour; in technical applications it works as a biodegradable metal chelator, cleaning agent, electroplating additive and paint propellant buffer, offering an eco-friendly alternative to harsher mineral acids.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 371.71
    methanol 639.2
    isopropanol 289.65
    water 889.02
    ethyl acetate 19.01
    n-propanol 303.99
    acetone 359.94
    n-butanol 227.3
    acetonitrile 117.68
    DMF 1498.71
    toluene 5.91
    isobutanol 136.48
    1,4-dioxane 262.25
    methyl acetate 54.23
    THF 331.2
    2-butanone 110.59
    n-pentanol 96.64
    sec-butanol 160.86
    n-hexane 6.82
    ethylene glycol 619.79
    NMP 287.11
    cyclohexane 6.17
    DMSO 1345.59
    n-butyl acetate 10.36
    n-octanol 20.37
    chloroform 8.97
    n-propyl acetate 19.29
    acetic acid 90.1
    dichloromethane 21.22
    cyclohexanone 59.77
    propylene glycol 282.29
    isopropyl acetate 12.99
    DMAc 633.22
    2-ethoxyethanol 402.72
    isopentanol 117.32
    n-heptane 5.91
    ethyl formate 119.43
    1,2-dichloroethane 37.82
    n-hexanol 43.82
    2-methoxyethanol 878.84
    isobutyl acetate 4.99
    tetrachloromethane 6.55
    n-pentyl acetate 8.17
    transcutol 81.49
    n-heptanol 25.55
    ethylbenzene 6.65
    MIBK 29.87
    2-propoxyethanol 144.45
    tert-butanol 257.9
    MTBE 57.9
    2-butoxyethanol 77.51
    propionic acid 59.92
    o-xylene 9.77
    formic acid 458.05
    diethyl ether 76.19
    m-xylene 6.81
    p-xylene 6.7
    chlorobenzene 2.83
    dimethyl carbonate 51.51
    n-octane 2.56
    formamide 597.03
    cyclopentanone 115.67
    2-pentanone 75.16
    anisole 30.95
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 62.79
    gamma-butyrolactone 106.66
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 349.71
    pyridine 42.47
    3-pentanone 40.06
    furfural 109.59
    n-dodecane 1.66
    diethylene glycol 265.02
    diisopropyl ether 11.26
    tert-amyl alcohol 132.55
    acetylacetone 54.7
    n-hexadecane 1.75
    acetophenone 22.79
    methyl propionate 42.55
    isopentyl acetate 6.9
    trichloroethylene 19.97
    n-nonanol 18.44
    cyclohexanol 62.03
    benzyl alcohol 41.17
    2-ethylhexanol 15.58
    isooctanol 15.12
    dipropyl ether 29.08
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 3.48
    ethyl lactate 31.97
    propylene carbonate 28.4
    n-methylformamide 702.84
    2-pentanol 85.67
    n-pentane 7.99
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 66.39
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 18.2
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 46.14
    mesitylene 6.44
    ε-caprolactone 43.16
    p-cymene 4.66
    epichlorohydrin 141.55
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 8.83
    2-aminoethanol 589.47
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 349.63
    sulfolane 172.41
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 2.31
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 105.17
    n-hexyl acetate 10.88
    isooctane 1.89
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 64.75
    sec-butyl acetate 8.2
    tert-butyl acetate 17.41
    decalin 2.44
    glycerin 457.07
    diglyme 165.47
    acrylic acid 61.09
    isopropyl myristate 5.74
    n-butyric acid 52.58
    acetyl acetate 8.78
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 6.64
    ethyl propionate 20.3
    nitromethane 211.83
    1,2-diethoxyethane 26.02
    benzonitrile 12.28
    trioctyl phosphate 7.84
    1-bromopropane 15.08
    gamma-valerolactone 185.34
    n-decanol 14.7
    triethyl phosphate 9.65
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 29.66
    propionitrile 57.24
    vinylene carbonate 27.63
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 108.67
    DMS 7.97
    cumene 5.56
    2-octanol 13.76
    2-hexanone 33.68
    octyl acetate 8.27
    limonene 6.47
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 530.14
    ethyl orthosilicate 9.71
    tributyl phosphate 6.14
    diacetone alcohol 66.9
    N,N-dimethylaniline 36.11
    acrylonitrile 72.14
    aniline 21.42
    1,3-propanediol 489.8
    bromobenzene 1.89
    dibromomethane 12.07
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 23.92
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 7.39
    tetrabutyl urea 17.38
    diisobutyl methanol 10.62
    2-phenylethanol 21.17
    styrene 5.97
    dioctyl adipate 7.98
    dimethyl sulfate 104.55
    ethyl butyrate 12.78
    methyl lactate 78.99
    butyl lactate 14.13
    diethyl carbonate 8.46
    propanediol butyl ether 56.29
    triethyl orthoformate 12.26
    p-tert-butyltoluene 5.0
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 22.36
    morpholine 332.48
    tert-butylamine 96.25
    n-dodecanol 11.71
    dimethoxymethane 466.86
    ethylene carbonate 27.13
    cyrene 66.92
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 11.24
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 4.86
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 3.88
    4-methylpyridine 41.07
    dibutyl ether 12.4
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 10.62
    DEF 166.56
    dimethyl isosorbide 53.88
    tetrachloroethylene 20.49
    eugenol 32.01
    triacetin 10.02
    span 80 26.74
    1,4-butanediol 226.23
    1,1-dichloroethane 15.11
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 48.26
    methyl formate 442.74
    2-methyl-1-butanol 107.63
    n-decane 2.56
    butyronitrile 58.56
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 12.0
    1-chlorooctane 5.33
    1-chlorotetradecane 2.72
    n-nonane 2.67
    undecane 2.0
    tert-butylcyclohexane 2.03
    cyclooctane 3.35
    cyclopentanol 111.13
    tetrahydropyran 104.99
    tert-amyl methyl ether 46.28
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 111.8
    1-hexene 13.05
    2-isopropoxyethanol 138.53
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 98.39
    methyl butyrate 39.3

    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