Caproic acid

Synonyms

1-Pentanecarboxylic acid; Butylacetic acid; Capronic acid; Hexacid 698; Hexanoic acid (natural); Hexoic acid; Kyselina kapronova [Czech]; Pentanecarboxylic acid; Pentiformic acid; Pentylformic acid; n-Caproic acid; n-Hexanoic acid; n-Hexoic acid; n-Hexylic acid; [ChemIDplus] UN2829

Category

Organic Acids

Description

Colorless or slightly yellow oily liquid with an odor of Limburger cheese; [Hawley] White solid or colorless to light yellow solution with an unpleasant odor; [CAMEO] Clear colorless liquid with a stench; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used to make esters for artificial flavors, hexyl derivatives, rubber chemicals, varnish driers, resins, and pharmaceuticals; Also used in analytical chemistry and insect attractants; [HSDB] Used to make perfumes; [CAMEO]

Comments

A strong irritant; [Hawley] A weak acid and irritant of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Harmful if ingested; [ICSC] Emergency medical treatment: acids; [HSDB] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema; [CAMEO] Causes convulsions in intravenous lethal-dose studies of mice; [RTECS] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin and eyes, based on animal studies; [CHEMINFO] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema; Effects in high-dose animal studies include convulsions; [MSDSonline]

Biomedical References

0.0435 mm Hg

6000 ppm

LC50 (mice) = 4,100 mg/m3/2h

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold (100% recognition) from CHEMINFO; VP from ChemIDplus;

must be preheated

Yes

Skin burns

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.