List of carboxylic acids

Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by a carboxyl (-COOH) functional group. The naming of these compounds is governed by IUPAC nomenclature, which ensures systematic and consistent naming of chemicals. Numerous organic compounds have other common names, often originating in historical source material thereof. The systematic IUPAC name is not always the preferred IUPAC name, for example, lactic acid is a common, and also the preferred, name for what systematic rules call 2-hydroxypropanoic acid.

This list is ordered by the number of carbon atoms in a carboxylic acid.

Common name IUPAC name Structural formula Notes
formic acid methanoic acid HCO2H
carbonic acid hydroxymethanoic acid HOCO2H Despite having an organic-like name, H2CO3 is not considered an organic compound.
Common name IUPAC name Structural formula
Acetic acid ethanoic acid CH3CO2H
Glycolic acid hydroxyacetic acid HOCH2CO2H
Glyoxylic acid oxoacetic acid OHCCO2H
Oxalic acid ethanedioic acid HO2CCO2H
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
Propionic acid propanoic acid
ethanecarboxylic acid
CH3CH2CO2H
Acrylic acid propenoic acid
acroleic acid
ethylenecarboxylic acid
vinylformic acid
CH2=CHCO2H
Propiolic acid propynoic acid
propargylic acid
acetylene carboxylic acid
CH≡CCO2H
Lactic acid 2-hydroxypropanoic acid
milk acid
CH3CHOHCO2H
3-Hydroxypropionic acid 3-hydroxypropanoic acid
hydracrylic acid
CH2OHCH2CO2H
Glyceric acid 2,3-dihydroxypropanoic acid CH2OHCHOHCO2H
Pyruvic acid 2-oxopropanoic acid
α-ketopropionic acid
acetylformic acid
pyroracemic acid
CH3COCO2H
3-oxopropanoic acid malonic semialdehyde
3-oxopropionic acid
OHCCH2CO2H
2,3-dioxopropanoic acid mesoxalic semialdehyde
dioxopropionic acid
OHCCOCO2H
Malonic acid propanedioic acid
methanedicarboxylic acid
HO2CCH2CO2H
Tartronic acid 2--hydroxypropanedioic acid
hydroxymalonic acid
HO2CCHOHCO2H
2,2-dihydroxypropanedioic acid dihydroxymalonic acid
mesoxalic acid monohydrate
HO2CC(OH)2CO2H
Mesoxalic acid oxopropanedioic acid
ketomalonic acid
oxomalonic acid
HO2CCOCO2H
Glycidic acid 2-oxiranecarboxylic acid
oxirane-2-carboxylic acid
CH2OCHCO2H
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
butanoic acid butyric acid
propanecarboxylic acid
CH3(CH2)2COOH
2-methylpropanoic acid isobutyric acid
isobutanoic acid
(CH3)2CHCOOH
(E)-but-2-enoic acid crotonic acid
trans-butenoic acid
3-methylacrylic acid
β-methacrylic acid
(E)-2-butenoic acid
CH3CH=CHCOOH
(Z)-but-2-enoic acid isocrotonic acid
cis-crotonic acid
cis-butenoic acid
(Z)-2-butenoic acid
CH3CH=CHCOOH
2-methylpropenoic acid methacrylic acid
α-methacrylic acid
2-methylacrylic acid
isobutenoic acid
CH2=C(CH3)COOH
but-3-enoic acid vinylacetic acid
allylic acid
3-butenoic acid
β-butenoic acid
CH2=CHCH2COOH
but-2-ynoic acid tetrolic acid
2-butynoic acid
CH3C≡CCOOH
2-hydroxybutanoic acid 2-hydroxybutyric acid
α-hydroxybutyrate
CH3CH2CHOHCOOH
3-hydroxybutanoic acid β-hydroxybutyric acid
3-hydroxybutyric acid
CH3CHOHCH2COOH
4-hydroxybutanoic acid γ-hydroxybutyric acid
GHB
4-hydroxybutyric acid
HOCH2(CH2)2COOH
2-oxobutanoic acid α-ketobutyric acid CH3CH2COCOOH
3-oxobutanoic acid acetoacetic acid
diacetic acid
CH3COCH2COOH
4-oxobutanoic acid succinic semialdehyde OHC(CH2)2COOH
butanedioic acid succinic acid HOOC(CH2)2COOH
2-methylpropanedioic acid methylmalonic acid HOOCCH(CH3)COOH
(E)-butenedioic acid fumaric acid
trans-1,2-ethylenedicarboxylic acid
trans-butenedioic acid
allomaleic acid
boletic acid
donitic acid
lichenic acid
HOOCCH=CHCOOH
(Z)-butenedioic acid maleic acid
cis-butenedioic acid
malenic acid
maleinic acid
toxilic acid
HOOCCH=CHCOOH
butynedioic acid acetylenedicarboxylic acid
2-butynedioic acid
HOOCC≡CCOOH
hydroxybutanedioic acid malic acid
hydroxysuccinic acid
2-hydroxybutanedioic acid
HOOCCH2CHOHCOOH
2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid tartaric acid
2,3-dihydroxysuccinic acid
racemic acid
threaric acid
uvic acid
paratartaric acid
HOOC(CHOH)2COOH
oxobutanedioic acid oxaloacetic acid
oxalacetic acid
oxosuccinic acid
ketosuccinic acid
HOOCCH2COCOOH
dioxobutanedioic acid dioxosuccinic acid HOOC(CO)2COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
pentanoic acid valeric acid
valerianic acid
butane-1-carboxylic acid
CH3(CH2)3COOH
3-methylbutanoic acid isovaleric acid
isopentanoic acid
delphinic acid
β-methylbutiric acid
3-methylbutiric acid
(CH3)2CHCH2COOH
2-methylbutanoic acid 2-methylbutiric acid CH3CH2CH(CH3)COOH
2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid pivalic acid
trimethylacetic acid
neopentanoic acid
(CH3)3CCOOH
3-hydroxypentanoic acid β-hydroxyvaleric acid
3-hydroxyvaleric acid
β-hydroxypentanoate
CH3CH2CHOHCH2COOH
4-hydroxypentanoic acid γ-hydroxyvaleric acid
GHV
4-methyl-GHB
CH3CHOH(CH2)2COOH
3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid
HMB
β-hydroxyisovaleric acid
3-hydroxyisovaleric acid
(CH3)2COHCH2COOH
pentanedioic acid glutaric acid
propane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid
n-pyrotartaric acid
HOOC(CH2)3COOH
2-oxopentanedioic acid α-ketoglutaric acid
2-ketoglutaric acid
2-oxoglutaric acid
oxoglutaric acid
HOOC(CH2)2COCOOH
3-oxopentanedioic acid acetonedicarboxylic acid
3-oxoglutaric acid
β-ketoglutaric acid
3-ketoglutaric acid
HOOCCH2COCH2COOH
furan-2-carboxylic acid 2-furoic acid
α-furoic acid
pyromucic acid
2-carboxyfuran
α-furancarboxylic acid
furyl-COOH
tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid tetrahydro-2-furoic acid
tetrahydrofuroic acid
tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid
tetrahydrofuryl-COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
hexanoic acid caproic acid
n-caproic acid
CH3(CH2)4COOH
hexanedioic acid adipic acid
hexane-1,6-dioic acid
HOOC(CH2)4COOH
2,3-dimethylbutanoic acid CH3(CHCH3)2COOH
3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid CH3C(CH3)2CH2COOH
2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid citric acid
3-carboxy-3-hydroxypentanedioic acid
2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
HOC(COOH)((CH2)COOH)2
prop-1-ene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid aconitic acid
achilleic acid
equisetic acid
citridinic acid
pyrocitric acid
HOOCCH=C(COOH)CH2COOH
1-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid isocitric acid HOOCCHOHCH(COOH)CH2COOH
(2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid sorbic acid CH3(CH=CH)2COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
heptanoic acid enanthic acid
oenanthic acid
n-Heptylic acid
n-Heptoic acid
CH3(CH2)5COOH
heptanedioic acid pimelic acid HOOC(CH2)5COOH
cyclohexanecarboxylic acid C
6
H
11
COOH
benzenecarboxylic acid benzoic acid
carboxybenzene
dracylic acid
C
6
H
5
COOH
2-hydroxybenzoic acid salicylic acid HOC
6
H
4
COOH
2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid CH3(CH2)2C(CH3)2COOH
2,3-dimethylpentanoic acid C2H5(CHCH3)2COOH
2,4-dimethylpentanoic acid CH3(CHCH3)CH2(CHCH3)COOH
3,3-dimethylpentanoic acid C2H5C(CH3)2CH2COOH
2-ethylpentanoic acid C3H7CH(C2H5)COOH
3-ethylpentanoic acid C2H5CH(C2H5)CH2COOH
2-methylhexanoic acid C4H9CH(CH3)COOH
3-methylhexanoic acid C3H7CH(CH3)CH2COOH
2,2,3-trimethylbutanoic acid CH3CH(CH3)C(CH3)2COOH
2-ethyl-2-methylbutanoic acid C2H5C(C2H5)(CH3)COOH
2-ethyl-3-

methylbutanoic acid

CH3CH(CH3)CH(C2H5)COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
octanoic acid caprylic acid CH3(CH2)6COOH
benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid phthalic acid C6H4(COOH)2
benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid isophthalic acid C6H4(COOH)2
benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid terephthalic acid C6H4(COOH)2
2-methylheptanoic acid C5H11CH(CH3)COOH
3-methylheptanoic acid C4H9CH(CH3)CH2COOH
4-methylheptanoic acid C3H7CH(CH3)C2H4COOH
5-methylheptanoic acid C2H5CH(CH3)C3H6COOH
6-methylheptanoic acid (CH3)2CHC4H8COOH
2,2-dimethylhexanoic acid C4H9C(CH3)2COOH
2,3-dimethylhexanoic acid C3H7[CH(CH3)]2COOH
2,4-dimethylhexanoic acid C2H5CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)COOH
2,5-dimethylhexanoic acid CH3CH(CH3)C2H4(CH3)COOH
3,3-dimethylhexanoic acid C3H7C(CH3)2CH2COOH
3,4-dimethylhexanoic acid C2H5[CH(CH3)]2CH2COOH
3,5-dimethylhexanoic acid (CH3)2CHCH2CH(CH3)CH2COOH
4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid C2H5C(CH3)2C2H4COOH
4,5-dimethylhexanoic acid CH3[CH(CH)3]2C2H4COOH
5,5-dimethylhexanoic acid (CH3)3CC3H6COOH
2-ethanehexanoic acid C4H9CH(C2H5)COOH
3-ethanehexanoic acid C3H7CH(C2H5)CH2COOH
4-ethanehexanoic acid C2H5CH(C2H5)C2H4COOH
5-ethanehexanoic acid CH3CH(C2H5)C3H6COOH
2-octenoic acid C5H11CH=CHCOOH
3-octenoic acid C4H9CH=CHCH2COOH
4-octenoic acid C3H7CH=CHC2H4COOH
5-octenoic acid C2H5CH=CHC3H6COOH
6-octenoic acid CH3CH=CHC4H8COOH
7-octenoic acid CH2=CHC5H10COOH

2-6 dimethyl octen dioic acid

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
nonanoic acid pelargonic acid
1-octanecarboxylic acid
CH3(CH2)7COOH
benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid trimesic acid C
6
H
3
(COOH)
3
(E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoic acid cinnamic acid
trans-cinnamic acid
phenylacrylic acid
cinnamylic acid
3-phenylacrylic acid
(E)-cinnamic acid
benzenepropenoic acid
isocinnamic acid
C
6
H
5
CH=CHCOOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
decanoic acid capric acid
CH3(CH2)8COOH
decanedioic acid sebacic acid
1,8-octanedicarboxylic acid
HOOC(CH2)8COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
undecanoic acid hendecanoic acid CH3(CH2)9COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
dodecanoic acid lauric acid
dodecylic acid
dodecoic acid
laurostearic acid
fulvic acid
1-undecanecarboxylic acid
duodecylic acid
CH3(CH2)10COOH
benzene-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylic acid mellitic acid
graphitic acid
benzenehexacarboxylic acid
C
6
(COOH)
6
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tridecanoic acid tridecylic acid CH3(CH2)11COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tetradecanoic acid myristic acid CH3(CH2)12COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
pentadecanoic acid pentadecylic acid CH3(CH2)13COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
hexadecanoic acid palmitic acid CH3(CH2)14COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
heptadecanoic acid margaric acid
heptadecylic acid
CH3(CH2)15COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
octadecanoic acid stearic acid CH3(CH2)16COOH
(9Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid oleic acid
(9Z)-octadecenoic acid
(Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid
cis-9-octadecenoic acid
cis9-octadecenoic acid
CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH
(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid linoleic acid CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH
(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid ALA
α-linolenic acid
cis, cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid
(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid
CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH
(6Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acid GLA
γ-linolenic acid
gamolenic acid
CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)4COOH
(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-6,9,12,15-tetraenoic acid SDA
stearidonic acid
moroctic acid
CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)5COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
nonadecanoic acid nonadecylic acid CH3(CH2)17COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
icosanoic acid arachidic acid
arachic acid
CH3(CH2)18COOH
(5Z,8Z,11Z)-eicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid Mead's acid CH3(CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH
(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid AA
ARA
arachidonic acid
CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH
(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14-pentaenoic acid EPA CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
heneicosanoic acid CH3(CH2)19COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
docosanoic acid behenic acid CH3(CH2)20COOH
(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid DHA
cervonic acid
CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tricosanoic acid tricosylic acid CH3(CH2)21COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tetracosanoic acid lignoceric acid CH3(CH2)22COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
pentacosanoic acid pentacosylic acid CH3(CH2)23COOH
IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
hexacosanoic acid cerotic acid CH3(CH2)24COOH