Question

Many carboxylic acids are much better known by their common names than by their systematic names. 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid (better known as lactic acid, it is found in sour milk and is formed in the muscles during exercise). Provide a structural formula for lactic acid.

Answer 1

Answer:

• CH₃ - CH - COOH

                  |

                  OH

• The developed structural formula is also attached.

Explanation:

The IUPAC name, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, lets you predict the structural formula for lactic acid.

• 2-hydroxy means that there is a OH functional group attached to the second carbon atom of the chain.

• Propan prefix means that the molecule has 3 carbon atoms.

• oic suffix means that it is a carboxylic acid, this is it contains the COOH functional group.

Hence, in conclusion the structural form of lactic acid is:

• C³H₃ - C²H - C¹OOH

                   |

                   OH

I used the superscripts just to show the number of the carbon atom in the chain.

The formal structural formula does not contain such superscripts it is just:

• CH₃ - CH - COOH

                  |

                  OH

A more developed structural formula will show the distribution of the atoms in the space. I have also attached a picture with the developes structural formula.