(organic chemistry) The simplest carboxylic acid, HCOOH, a colourless, corrosive liquid with a sharp odour; it is present in the stings of ants, bees and nettles, and is prepared industrially by the oxidation of methanol or formaldehyde; it has some industrial uses, and its esters, the formates are used in perfumes.

(organic chemistry) An organic compound, C₆H₁₂O₇, formed by oxidizing the aldehyde functional group of glucose into a carboxylic acid; used as a food additive; any glucosyl derivative of this compound

(organic chemistry) A saturated fatty acid, CH₃(CH₂)₁₀COOH, occurring in coconut, palm and laurel oil; mostly used in making cosmetics and soaps

(chemistry) a solution of hydrogen cyanide, HCN, in water; a weak poisonous acid, used as a fumigant

(organic chemistry) A class of organic compounds having two acyl groups bonded to the same oxygen atom. They react with water to give carboxylic acids.

(organic chemistry) Any of three isomeric aromatic organic benzenedicarboxylic acids, C₆H₄(COOH)₂; especially the ortho- isomer manufactured from naphthalene, used in the synthesis of dyes, perfumes and other compounds.

(chemistry) a solid white acid, H₂SeO₄, having the same structure and similar reactions as sulphuric acid

(organic chemistry) an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, (CH₂)₆(COOH)₂, obtained from cork; used in the manufacture of plastics

(chemistry) a strong inorganic acid, HSO₂OH / (chemistry) the univalent functional group -SO₂OH

(organic chemistry) A crystalline unsaturated hydroxy fatty acid C₁₈H₃₄O₃ that yields esters important as plasticizers and whose glyceride (ricinolein) is the main component of castor oil.