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Glite Dictionary
propionic acid

propionic acid

8.0
A sharp smelling liquid found in milk and sweat used to stop mold and make other chemicals
  • noun
  • /prəˈpɪənɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido propiónico
  • The preservative in the bread contains propionic acid to prevent mold growth.

Examples

  • Industrial production of propionic acid is commonly done through fermentation.

  • Scientists detected the presence of propionic acid in the sweat samples.

  • The laboratory tested the purity of propionic acid.

  • Many cheeses contain propionic acid as a natural preservative.

  • Industrial production of propionic acid is commonly done through fermentation.

  • The preservative in the bread contains propionic acid to prevent mold growth.

  • Many cheeses contain propionic acid as a natural preservative.

Synonyms

propanoic acid
vspropionic acid
  • Specialized
6.3

A clear chemical with a strong smell found in milk and sweat used to preserve food and make other chemicals

has identical meaning but uses a different name form

Surface Forms

propionic acid singular
propionic acids plural

Morphology

propionic + acid

The form is compositionally regular (modifier + noun) so it denotes a particular type of acid, which is a transparent structural relation. However, 'propionic' is a technical, specialized chemical label whose specific properties are not predictable from general vocabulary, so a B1 learner without domain knowledge would not infer the full meaning.

Etymology

Propionic acid gets its name from bacteria called Propionibacterium, which make this sharp, sour liquid when milk and cheese ferment. So the part propionic points to where the acid is often found and to its use as a 'preservative' and for its sour smell.