Definition of butyric acid in English:
butyric acid
nounbjuːˈtɪrɪkbyo͞oˌtirik ˈasid
mass nounChemistry A colourless syrupy liquid organic acid found in rancid butter and in arnica oil.
Alternative name: butanoic acid; chemical formula: C₃H₇COOH
Example sentencesExamples
- Undigested lactose fermented by bacteria creates lactic acid in the stool and other short chain fatty acids such as butyric acid.
- A variety of other organic acids are produced by other bacteria, including butyric acid, responsible for the taste of rancid butter.
- The culture supernatants were analysed and butyric acid identified as the potentially toxic material.
- The name comes from butyric acid, an acid that has the smell of rancid butter.
- He named these materials and some of these names, like stearic acid and butyric acid, are still used today.
Origin
Mid 19th century: butyric from Latin butyrum (see butter) + -ic.