Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

propionic acid

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.76 in modern English

Syllables
pro-pi-onic acid
IPA
22
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The compound with the formula CH₃CH₂COOH, a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor.

Uncountable

Etymology

From French acide propionique, coined by chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos) ("first") and πίων (píōn) ("fat"), because it was the smallest carboxylic acid that exhibited the properties of the other fatty acids, such as producing an oily layer when salted out of water and having a soapy potassium salt.

Usage

Derived Forms

ibuprofen propionate

Phrases

isobutylphenyl propionic acid The widely used prop- prefix

Synonyms

propanoic acid E280 when used as a preservative

Questions

What does propionic acid mean?
The compound with the formula CH₃CH₂COOH, a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor.
Where does propionic acid come from?
From French acide propionique, coined by chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos) ("first") and πίων (píōn) ("fat"), because it was the smallest carboxylic acid that exhibited the properties of the other fatty acids, such as producing an oily layer when salted out of water and having a soapy potassium salt.

How to pronounce propionic acid

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