English

Noun

propanoic acid ‎(uncountable)

1. A colourless liquid with a sharp unpleasant odour; produced by the bacterial breakdown of fatty acids and therefore found in sweat and some cheese.
2. (organic chemistry) The short chain aliphatic carboxylic acid, CH₃CH₂COOH, used as a preservative, and in the manufacture of many chemical compounds.

Synonyms

• E280 when used as a preservative
• propionic acid

Related terms

• propionate