butyric acid

butyric acid

butyric acid or butanoic acid , CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CO 2 H, viscous, foul-smelling, liquid carboxylic acid; m.p. about -5°C; b.p. 163.5°C. It is miscible with water, ethanol, and ether. It is a low molecular weight fatty acid that is present in butter as an ester of glycerol; the odor of rancid butter is due largely to the presence of free butyric acid. Butyric acid is used in the manufacture of plastics. Isobutyric acid, or 2-methylpropanoic acid, (CH 3 ) 2 CHCO 2 H, is a geometric isomer of the butyric acid described above; it has different physical properties but similar chemical properties.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"butyric acid." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"butyric acid." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-butyrica.html

"butyric acid." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-butyrica.html

Learn more about citation styles

butyric acid

butyric acid A short‐chain saturated fatty acid (C4 : 0). It occurs as the triacylglycerol in 5–6% of butter fat, and in small amounts in other fats and oils. Also formed by intestinal bacterial fermentation of resistant starch, when it is possibly protective against the development of colo‐rectal cancer.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "butyric acid." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "butyric acid." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-butyricacid.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "butyric acid." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-butyricacid.html

Learn more about citation styles

butyric

butyric (butyric acid, found in rancid butter) XIX. f. L. būtȳrum BUTTER + -IC.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "butyric." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "butyric." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-butyric.html

T. F. HOAD. "butyric." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-butyric.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Effect of butyric acid on performance, gastrointestinal tract health and...
Magazine article from: Asian - Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences; 7/1/2009
Butyric acid suppresses palatable food consumption in Siberian hamsters...
Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Zoology; 9/1/2009
Finnish Customs find GHB.(gamma-hydroxy butyric acid or gamma-hydroxy...
Newspaper article from: Nordic Business Report; 10/3/2002
butyric acid images
butyric acid. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)