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

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.

C2

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

C3

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

C4

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

C5

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

C6

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

C7

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
6H
11COOH
benzenecarboxylic acid benzoic acid
carboxybenzene
dracylic acid		 C
6H
5COOH
2-hydroxybenzoic acid salicylic acid HOC
6H
4COOH
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

C8

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

C9

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
6H
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
6H
5CH=CHCOOH

C10

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
decanoic acid capric acid
 CH3(CH2)8COOH
decanedioic acid sebacic acid
1,8-octanedicarboxylic acid		 HOOC(CH2)8COOH

C11

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
undecanoic acid hendecanoic acid CH3(CH2)9COOH

C12

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

C13

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tridecanoic acid tridecylic acid CH3(CH2)11COOH

C14

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tetradecanoic acid myristic acid CH3(CH2)12COOH

C15

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
pentadecanoic acid pentadecylic acid CH3(CH2)13COOH

C16

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
hexadecanoic acid palmitic acid CH3(CH2)14COOH

C17

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
heptadecanoic acid margaric acid
heptadecylic acid		 CH3(CH2)15COOH

C18

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
cis-Δ9-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

C19

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
nonadecanoic acid nonadecylic acid CH3(CH2)17COOH

C20

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

C21

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
heneicosanoic acid CH3(CH2)19COOH

C22

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

C23

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tricosanoic acid tricosylic acid CH3(CH2)21COOH

C24

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
tetracosanoic acid lignoceric acid CH3(CH2)22COOH

C25

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
pentacosanoic acid pentacosylic acid CH3(CH2)23COOH

C26

IUPAC name Common name Structural formula
hexacosanoic acid cerotic acid CH3(CH2)24COOH
Categories