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Dicarboxylic acid
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, a dicarboxylic acid is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> containing two <a href="/facts/Carboxyl_group/U4xuMosy">carboxyl groups</a> (−COOH). The general <a href="/facts/Molecular_formula/hghUtthl">molecular formula</a> for dicarboxylic acids can be written as HO2C−R−CO2H, where R can be <a href="/facts/Aliphatic/9usN3neo">aliphatic</a> or <a href="/facts/Aromatic_compound/3EXq8Tgf">aromatic</a>. In general, dicarboxylic acids show similar chemical behavior and reactivity to <a href="/facts/Carboxylic_acid/U4xuMosy">monocarboxylic acids</a>. </p><p>Dicarboxylic acids are used in the preparation of <a href="/facts/Copolymer/35D97DuV">copolymers</a> such as <a href="/facts/Polyamide/8AmQgTFa">polyamides</a> and <a href="/facts/Polyester/Ivp9CHpl">polyesters</a>. The most widely used dicarboxylic acid in the industry is <a href="/facts/Adipic_acid/8l8ahlDC">adipic acid</a>, which is a precursor in the production of <a href="/facts/Nylon/hBvG9bCw">nylon</a>. Other examples of dicarboxylic acids include <a href="/facts/Aspartic_acid/9DFSFPa1">aspartic acid</a> and <a href="/facts/Glutamic_acid/7oXbNcvu">glutamic acid</a>, two <a href="/facts/Amino_acids/WDxYwBny">amino acids</a> in the human body. The name can be abbreviated to diacid; long chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are known as fatty diacids. </p>