propionic acid en · NOUN
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.
Meanings
- (uncountable) The compound with the formula CH₃CH₂COOH, a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor.
Deriveds
ibuprofen · The widely used prop- prefix · isobutylphenyl propionic acid · propionate
Synonyms
E280 when used as a preservative · propanoic acid
Translations (3)
fi propionihappo (a kind of fatty acid) · sv propionsyra (a kind of fatty acid) · cmn 丙酸 (a kind of fatty acid)