Lactic acid
CAS 50-21-5C3H6O390.08 g/mol
2-hydroxypropanoic acid is a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is propanoic acid in which one of the alpha-hydrogens is replaced by a hydroxy group. It has a role as a Daphnia magna metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is functionally related to a propionic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a lactate.
IUPAC: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid
PubChem
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 16.8 °C |
| Boiling Point | 122 °C at 1.50E+01 mm Hg |
| Density | 1.2 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink |
| Solubility | 1000000 mg/L |
| Flash Point | 113 °C (235 °F) - closed cup |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.08 [mmHg] |
| pH | The pH of a 10 wt% aqueous solution of lactic acid is 1.75 |
| Appearance | Lactic acid appears as a colorless to yellow odorless syrupy liquid. Corrosive to metals and tissue. Used to make cultured dairy products, as a food preservative, and to make chemicals. |
Data: PubChem · Last updated: 4/20/2026
GHS Classification
No GHS classification data available.
Classification data is sourced from ECHA.
Regulatory Compliance
TSCA
Listed
note: Status based on EPA TSCA Active Inventory · inventory name: TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
View sourceGlobal Trade Intelligence
No trade flow data available for this chemical.
HS Code(s): 2918
Data: UN Comtrade
Suppliers on Chem-Exchange
No suppliers currently listing Lactic acid
List Your ProductsSafety Data Sheets
No SDS documents available
Upload an SDS document