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.
C1
IUPAC name Common nameStructural formulaNotesmethanoic acidformic acidHCO2Hcarbonic acidhydroxymethanoic acidHOCO2HDespite having an organic-like name, H2CO3 is not considered an organic compound.
C2
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaethanoic acid acetic acidCH3CO2Hglycolic acidhydroxyacetic acidHOCH2CO2Hglyoxylic acidoxoacetic acid OHCCO2Hoxalic acidethanedioic acidHO2CCO2H
C3
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulapropanoic acidpropionic acidethanecarboxylic acidCH3CH2CO2Hacrylic acid propenoic acidacroleic acidethylenecarboxylic acidvinylformic acidCH2=CHCO2Hpropiolic acidpropynoic acidpropargylic acidacetylene carboxylic acidCH≡CCO2Hlactic acid2-hydroxypropanoic acidmilk acidCH3CHOHCO2H3-hydroxypropionic acid3-hydroxypropanoic acidhydracrylic acidCH2OHCH2CO2Hglyceric acid2,3-dihydroxypropanoic acidCH2OHCHOHCO2Hpyruvic acid2-oxopropanoic acidα-ketopropionic acidacetylformic acidpyroracemic acidCH3COCO2H3-oxopropanoic acidmalonic semialdehyde3-oxopropionic acidOHCCH2CO2H2,3-dioxopropanoic acidmesoxalic semialdehydedioxopropionic acidOHCCOCO2Hmalonic acid propanedioic acid methanedicarboxylic acidHO2CCH2CO2Htartronic acid2--hydroxypropanedioic acidhydroxymalonic acidHO2CCHOHCO2H2,2-dihydroxypropanedioic aciddihydroxymalonic acidmesoxalic acid monohydrateHO2CC(OH)2CO2Hmesoxalic acidoxopropanedioic acidketomalonic acidoxomalonic acidHO2CCOCO2Hglycidic acid2-oxiranecarboxylic acidoxirane-2-carboxylic acidCH2OCHCO2H
C4
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulabutanoic acidbutyric acidpropanecarboxylic acidCH3(CH2)2COOH2-methylpropanoic acidisobutyric acidisobutanoic acid(CH3)2CHCOOH(E)-but-2-enoic acidcrotonic acidtrans-butenoic acid3-methylacrylic acidβ-methacrylic acid(E)-2-butenoic acidCH3CH=CHCOOH(Z)-but-2-enoic acidisocrotonic acidcis-crotonic acidcis-butenoic acid(Z)-2-butenoic acidCH3CH=CHCOOH2-methylpropenoic acidmethacrylic acidα-methacrylic acid2-methylacrylic acidisobutenoic acidCH2=C(CH3)COOHbut-3-enoic acidvinylacetic acidallylic acid3-butenoic acidβ-butenoic acidCH2=CHCH2COOHbut-2-ynoic acidtetrolic acid2-butynoic acidCH3C≡CCOOH2-hydroxybutanoic acid2-hydroxybutyric acidα-hydroxybutyrateCH3CH2CHOHCOOH3-hydroxybutanoic acidβ-hydroxybutyric acid3-hydroxybutyric acidCH3CHOHCH2COOH4-hydroxybutanoic acidγ-hydroxybutyric acidGHB4-hydroxybutyric acidHOCH2(CH2)2COOH2-oxobutanoic acidα-ketobutyric acidCH3CH2COCOOH3-oxobutanoic acidacetoacetic aciddiacetic acidCH3COCH2COOH4-oxobutanoic acidsuccinic semialdehydeOHC(CH2)2COOHbutanedioic acidsuccinic acidHOOC(CH2)2COOH2-methylpropanedioic acidmethylmalonic acidHOOCCH(CH3)COOH(E)-butenedioic acidfumaric acidtrans-1,2-ethylenedicarboxylic acidtrans-butenedioic acidallomaleic acidboletic aciddonitic acidlichenic acidHOOCCH=CHCOOH(Z)-butenedioic acidmaleic acidcis-butenedioic acidmalenic acidmaleinic acidtoxilic acidHOOCCH=CHCOOHbutynedioic acidacetylenedicarboxylic acid2-butynedioic acidHOOCC≡CCOOHhydroxybutanedioic acidmalic acidhydroxysuccinic acid2-hydroxybutanedioic acidHOOCCH2CHOHCOOH2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acidtartaric acid2,3-dihydroxysuccinic acidracemic acidthrearic aciduvic acidparatartaric acidHOOC(CHOH)2COOHoxobutanedioic acidoxaloacetic acidoxalacetic acidoxosuccinic acidketosuccinic acidHOOCCH2COCOOHdioxobutanedioic aciddioxosuccinic acidHOOC(CO)2COOH
C5
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulapentanoic acidvaleric acidvalerianic acidbutane-1-carboxylic acidCH3(CH2)3COOH3-methylbutanoic acidisovaleric acidisopentanoic aciddelphinic acidβ-methylbutiric acid3-methylbutiric acid(CH3)2CHCH2COOH2-methylbutanoic acid2-methylbutiric acidCH3CH2CH(CH3)COOH2,2-dimethylpropanoic acidpivalic acidtrimethylacetic acidneopentanoic acid(CH3)3CCOOH3-hydroxypentanoic acidβ-hydroxyvaleric acid3-hydroxyvaleric acidβ-hydroxypentanoateCH3CH2CHOHCH2COOH4-hydroxypentanoic acidγ-hydroxyvaleric acidGHV4-methyl-GHBCH3CHOH(CH2)2COOH3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acidβ-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acidHMBβ-hydroxyisovaleric acid3-hydroxyisovaleric acid(CH3)2COHCH2COOHpentanedioic acidglutaric acidpropane-1,3-dicarboxylic acidn-pyrotartaric acidHOOC(CH2)3COOH2-oxopentanedioic acidα-ketoglutaric acid2-ketoglutaric acid2-oxoglutaric acidoxoglutaric acidHOOC(CH2)2COCOOH3-oxopentanedioic acidacetonedicarboxylic acid3-oxoglutaric acidβ-ketoglutaric acid3-ketoglutaric acidHOOCCH2COCH2COOHfuran-2-carboxylic acid2-furoic acidα-furoic acidpyromucic acid2-carboxyfuranα-furancarboxylic acidfuryl-COOHtetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acidtetrahydro-2-furoic acidtetrahydrofuroic acidtetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acidtetrahydrofuryl-COOH
C6
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulahexanoic acidcaproic acidn-caproic acidCH3(CH2)4COOH4-Methylpentanoic acidisocaproic acid4-Methylvaleric acidhexanedioic acidadipic acidhexane-1,6-dioic acidHOOC(CH2)4COOH2,3-dimethylbutanoic acidCH3(CHCH3)2COOH3,3-dimethylbutanoic acidCH3C(CH3)2CH2COOH2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acidcitric acid3-carboxy-3-hydroxypentanedioic acid2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acidHOC(COOH)((CH2)COOH)2prop-1-ene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acidaconitic acidachilleic acidequisetic acidcitridinic acidpyrocitric acidHOOCCH=C(COOH)CH2COOH1-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acidisocitric acidHOOCCHOHCH(COOH)CH2COOH(2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acidsorbic acidCH3(CH=CH)2COOH
C7
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaheptanoic acidenanthic acidoenanthic acidn-Heptylic acidn-Heptoic acidCH3(CH2)5COOHheptanedioic acidpimelic acidHOOC(CH2)5COOHcyclohexanecarboxylic acid benzenecarboxylic acidbenzoic acidcarboxybenzenedracylic acid2-hydroxybenzoic acidsalicylic acid2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid2,2-dimethylvaleric acidCH3(CH2)2C(CH3)2COOH2,3-dimethylpentanoic acidC2H5(CHCH3)2COOH2,4-dimethylpentanoic acidCH3(CHCH3)CH2(CHCH3)COOH3,3-dimethylpentanoic acidC2H5C(CH3)2CH2COOH2-ethylpentanoic acid2-ethylvaleric acidC3H7CH(C2H5)COOH3-ethylpentanoic acidC2H5CH(C2H5)CH2COOH2-methylhexanoic acid2-methylcaproic acidC4H9CH(CH3)COOH3-methylhexanoic acidC3H7CH(CH3)CH2COOH2,2,3-trimethylbutanoic acidCH3CH(CH3)C(CH3)2COOH2-ethyl-2-methylbutanoic acidC2H5C(C2H5)(CH3)COOH2-ethyl-3- methylbutanoic acidCH3CH(CH3)CH(C2H5)COOH
C8
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaoctanoic acidcaprylic acidCH3(CH2)6COOHbenzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acidphthalic acidC6H4(COOH)2benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acidisophthalic acidC6H4(COOH)2benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acidterephthalic acidC6H4(COOH)23-Cyclopentylpropanoic acidcypionic acidC5H9(CH2)2COOH2-methylheptanoic acid2-methylenanthic acidC5H11CH(CH3)COOH3-methylheptanoic acidC4H9CH(CH3)CH2COOH4-methylheptanoic acidC3H7CH(CH3)C2H4COOH5-methylheptanoic acidC2H5CH(CH3)C3H6COOH6-methylheptanoic acid(CH3)2CHC4H8COOH2,2-dimethylhexanoic acidC4H9C(CH3)2COOH2,3-dimethylhexanoic acidC3H7[CH(CH3)]2COOH2,4-dimethylhexanoic acidC2H5CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)COOH2,5-dimethylhexanoic acidCH3CH(CH3)C2H4(CH3)COOH3,3-dimethylhexanoic acidC3H7C(CH3)2CH2COOH3,4-dimethylhexanoic acidC2H5[CH(CH3)]2CH2COOH3,5-dimethylhexanoic acid(CH3)2CHCH2CH(CH3)CH2COOH4,4-dimethylhexanoic acidC2H5C(CH3)2C2H4COOH4,5-dimethylhexanoic acidCH3[CH(CH)3]2C2H4COOH5,5-dimethylhexanoic acid(CH3)3CC3H6COOH2-ethylhexanoic acidoctoic acidC4H9CH(C2H5)COOH3-ethylhexanoic acidC3H7CH(C2H5)CH2COOH4-ethylhexanoic acidC2H5CH(C2H5)C2H4COOH2-octenoic acidC5H11CH=CHCOOH3-octenoic acidC4H9CH=CHCH2COOH4-octenoic acidC3H7CH=CHC2H4COOH5-octenoic acidC2H5CH=CHC3H6COOH6-octenoic acidCH3CH=CHC4H8COOH7-octenoic acidCH2=CHC5H10COOH
C9
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulanonanoic acidpelargonic acid1-octanecarboxylic acidCH3(CH2)7COOHbenzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acidtrimesic acid(E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoic acidcinnamic acidtrans-cinnamic acidphenylacrylic acidcinnamylic acid3-phenylacrylic acid(E)-cinnamic acidbenzenepropenoic acidisocinnamic acid
C10
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formuladecanoic acidcapric acidCH3(CH2)8COOHdecanedioic acidsebacic acid1,8-octanedicarboxylic acidHOOC(CH2)8COOH
C11
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaundecanoic acidhendecanoic acidundecylic acidCH3(CH2)9COOH
C12
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formuladodecanoic acidlauric aciddodecylic aciddodecoic acidlaurostearic acidfulvic acid1-undecanecarboxylic acidduodecylic acidCH3(CH2)10COOHbenzene-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylic acidmellitic acidgraphitic acidbenzenehexacarboxylic acid
C13
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulatridecanoic acidtridecylic acidCH3(CH2)11COOH
C14
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulatetradecanoic acidmyristic acidCH3(CH2)12COOH
C15
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulapentadecanoic acidpentadecylic acidCH3(CH2)13COOH13-methyltetradecanoic acid13-methylmyristic acid(CH3)2CH(CH2)11COOH
C16
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulahexadecanoic acidpalmitic acidCH3(CH2)14COOH
C17
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaheptadecanoic acidmargaric acidheptadecylic acidCH3(CH2)15COOH
C18
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formula(9Z,12R,15Z)-12-hydroxyoctadeca-9,15-dienoic aciddensipolic acidoctadecanoic acidstearic acidCH3(CH2)16COOH(9Z)-octadec-9-enoic acidoleic acid(9Z)-octadecenoic acid(Z)-octadec-9-enoic acidcis-9-octadecenoic acidcis-Δ9-octadecenoic acidCH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acidlinoleic acidCH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acidALAα-linolenic acidcis, cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acidCH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH(6Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acidGLAγ-linolenic acidgamolenic acidCH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)4COOH(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-6,9,12,15-tetraenoic acidSDAstearidonic acidmoroctic acidCH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)5COOH
C19
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulanonadecanoic acidnonadecylic acidCH3(CH2)17COOH10-Methyloctadecanoic acidTuberculostearic acidCH3(CH2)7CH(CH3)(CH2)8COOH2,6,10,14-Tetramethylpentadecanoic acidPristanic acid(CH3)2CH(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)COOH
C20
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaicosanoic acidarachidic acidarachic acidCH3(CH2)18COOH(5Z,8Z,11Z)-eicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acidMead's acidCH3(CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acidAAARAarachidonic acidCH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14-pentaenoic acidEPACH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3COOH(7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadecanoic acidPhytanic acid(CH3)2CH(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)CH2COOH
C21
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulaheneicosanoic acidCH3(CH2)19COOH
C22
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formuladocosanoic acidbehenic acidCH3(CH2)20COOH(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acidDHAcervonic acidCH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2COOH
C23
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulatricosanoic acidtricosylic acidCH3(CH2)21COOH
C24
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulatetracosanoic acidlignoceric acidCH3(CH2)22COOH
C25
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulapentacosanoic acidpentacosylic acidCH3(CH2)23COOH
C26
IUPAC nameCommon nameStructural formulahexacosanoic acidcerotic acidCH3(CH2)24COOH