Chemical Properties of Chloroacetic Acid
- When chloroacetic acid is heated carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride gas are formed as byproducts.
C2H3O2Cl + O2 → CO2 + H2O + HCl
- Chloroacetic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and forms Sodium Chloroacetate and water
C2H3ClO2 + NaOH → C2H2O2NaCl + H2O
- Thioglycolic acid (C2H4O2S) is prepared by the displacement of chloride by sulfide when chloroacetic acid reacts with sodium thiosulfate. Thioglycolic acid is used as a stabilizer in PVC and also as a component in some cosmetics.
ClCH2CO2H + Na2S2O3 → Na[O3S2CH2CO2H] + NaCl
Na[O3S2CH2CO2H] + H2O → HSCH2CO2H + NaHSO4
Chloroacetic Acid Formula
Chloroacetic acid is an organochlorine compound that happens to be a conjugate acid of chloroacetate. It is derived from acetic acid. Chloroacetic acid is a chlorocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid with a 2-chloro substituent. Industrially, this acid is known as monochloroacetic acid (MCA), whose chemical formula is C2H3ClO2. The other names of this acid are chloro ethanoic acid, 2-chloro acetic acid, and 2-chloroethanoic acid. It is a haloacetic acid whose concentration of acid can be around 80%. It is an effective building block for organic synthesis. This acid in its solid form is a colorless or light-brown crystalline material, whereas in its aqueous form it is a colorless solution of the white crystalline solid. This acid is corrosive to metals and tissues. It is used as a chemical intermediate, herbicide, bacteriostat, and also as a preservative. When chloroacetic acid is heated to decomposition, it emits highly toxic and corrosive hydrogen chloride and phosgene fumes.