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Glite Dictionary
propanoic acid

propanoic acid

6.3
A clear chemical with a strong smell found in milk and sweat used to preserve food and make other chemicals
  • noun
  • /prəˈpænɔɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido propanoico
  • Propanoic acid is commonly used as a food preservative due to its antifungal properties.

Examples

  • Scientists detected traces of propanoic acid in the sample taken from the dairy product.

  • The chemical smell was traced back to a bottle of propanoic acid in the laboratory.

  • Propanoic acid is commonly used in the food industry.

  • Many dairy products contain propanoic acid.

  • Propanoic acid is often added to cheese as a preservative to prevent spoilage.

  • The presence of propanoic acid in the yogurt indicates fermentation.

  • In biochemistry, propanoic acid plays a role in metabolic processes within the body.

Synonyms

propionic acid
vspropanoic acid
  • Specialized
8.0

A sharp smelling liquid found in milk and sweat used to stop mold and make other chemicals

uses the systematic name rather than the familiar form

Surface Forms

propanoic acid singular
propanoic acids plural

Morphology

propanoic + acid

The noun 'acid' is a common, transparent constituent but 'propanoic' is a technical, derivational adjective from chemical nomenclature (related to propane) rather than an everyday word. Because understanding the full meaning requires knowledge of chemical naming conventions or the root 'propane', an average B1 learner who only knows general word meanings would not reliably infer the specific organic-acid sense, making the phrase partially compositional but not fully predictable.

Etymology

Propanoic acid comes from propane, a chain of three carbon atoms, plus the acid ending -oic, and so the name literally means the 'acid' form of a three-carbon molecule. That's why this small, sharp-smelling acid is the kind you can find in milk, sweat, and some foods.