Adipic acid
General
Common name	adipic acid
Systematic name	hexanedioic acid
Other names	butane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid
Molecular formula	C6O4H10
SMILES	OC(=O)CCCCC(=O)O
Molar mass	146.14 g/mol
Appearance	White crystals
CAS number	*
Properties
Density and phase	1.36 g/cm3
Solubility in water	slightly soluble
Other solvents ethanol, acetone	soluble
Melting point	153 °C (426 K)
Boiling point	337 °C (610 K)
Acidity	pKa1=4.42 pKa2=5.42
Structure
Molecular shape	?
Coordination geometry	?
Crystal structure	?
Dipole moment	? D
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	flammable
Flash point	210 °C
R/S statement	R: 36 S: n/a
RTECS number	?
Supplementary data page
Structure & properties	n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related dicarboxylic acids	glutaric acid pimelic acid
Related compounds	hexanoic acid
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25°C, 100 kPa) Chemical infobox

Adipic acid is the common name of 1,6-hexanedioic acid, a chemical compound of the class of carboxylic acids. It is a white crystalline powder appearing as an acid in aqueous circumstances, though it is not highly soluble.

Preparation

---

Historically, adipic acid is prepared from various fats using oxidation. Current commercial adipic acid is produced from cyclohexane by two oxidation steps.

1. Cyclohexane + O₂ → cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone
2. cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone + nitric acid + air → adipic acid

Uses

---

By far the main use of adipic acid is as monomer for the production of nylon by a polycondensation reaction with hexamethylene diamine forming 6,6-nylon, the most common form of nylon. Alternative uses include lubricant components and gelling aids as food additive under E-number E205.

External links

---

• adipic acid on chemicalland

Dicarboxylic acids | Monomers

Adipinsäure | Acide adipique | Acido adipico | アジピン酸 | Адипиновая кислота