dicarboxylic acid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “dicarboxylic acid” mean?
An organic compound containing two carboxyl functional groups (–COOH).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organic compound containing two carboxyl functional groups (–COOH).
Dicarboxylic acids are important in biochemistry and industrial chemistry, serving as intermediates in metabolic pathways like the citric acid cycle and used in the production of polymers, solvents, and other chemicals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in spelling, meaning, or usage; the term is identical in both variants in scientific contexts.
Connotations
None; purely technical with no additional connotations.
Frequency
Equally common in academic, chemical, and biochemical texts in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “dicarboxylic acid” in a Sentence
noun + with + noun phrase (e.g., acid with two carboxyl groups)modified by adjectives (e.g., aliphatic dicarboxylic acid)used as a subject or object in scientific descriptionsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dicarboxylic acid” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The enzyme can dicarboxylate the substrate under aerobic conditions.
- We need to dicarboxylate the compound to analyse its structure.
American English
- The reaction dicarboxylates the malonic acid efficiently.
- Researchers often dicarboxylate these acids to study their properties.
adjective
British English
- The dicarboxylic acid compound showed high solubility in water.
- Dicarboxylic derivatives are crucial for this synthesis.
American English
- Dicarboxylic acids are key intermediates in metabolism.
- The dicarboxylic nature affects the acid's pKa values.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in contexts related to chemical manufacturing or pharmaceutical industries.
Academic
Common in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology textbooks, research papers, and lectures.
Everyday
Extremely rare; unlikely to be used in casual conversation.
Technical
Frequently used in organic chemistry, metabolic engineering, and industrial chemistry discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dicarboxylic acid”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dicarboxylic acid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dicarboxylic acid”
- Misspelling as 'dicarboxilic acid'
- Using 'dicarboxylic' to describe acids with only one carboxyl group
- Incorrect pluralization as 'dicarboxylics acid'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It means having two carboxyl groups (–COOH) in a molecule.
Oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH) is the simplest dicarboxylic acid.
They are found in metabolic pathways like the citric acid cycle and in industrial chemicals such as adhesives and plastics.
Dicarboxylic acid has two carboxyl groups, while monocarboxylic acid has only one, affecting properties like acidity and solubility.
An organic compound containing two carboxyl functional groups (–COOH).
Dicarboxylic acid is usually technical/scientific in register.
Dicarboxylic acid: in British English it is pronounced /daɪˌkɑːbɒkˈsɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˌkɑːrbɑːkˈsɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'di-' means two, and 'carboxylic acid' refers to the carboxyl group (–COOH), so dicarboxylic acid has two carboxyl groups.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualized as a molecular building block or intermediate in chemical and biological processes.
Practice
Quiz
What defines a dicarboxylic acid?