Difference between Butyric Acid and Butyric Acid

In the chemical industry, n-butyric acid and butyric acid are two commonly mentioned concepts, which have significant differences in chemical structure, properties and applications. This article will deeply analyze the difference between n-butyric acid and butyric acid to help readers better understand the characteristics of these two substances and their application in industrial production.

1. basic definition and structural characteristics

1.1 Butyric Acid Definition

Butyric acid (Straight-Chain Acetic Acid) is a colorless and transparent organic acid with a chemical formula of C4H8O2. The carbon atoms in the molecular structure are arranged in a straight line without branched chains. Butyric acid is a kind of primary terminal acid, with weak acidity, soluble in water and ethanol.

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Definition of butyric acid Butyric acid (Butyric Acid) is an organic acid with four carbon atoms, the chemical formula is C4H8O2, there is a carbon atom branch in the molecular structure, forming a branched chain. Butyric acid is a secondary terminal acid, acidic stronger than n-butyric acid, but weaker than acetic acid.

2. structural differences and physical properties

2.1 crystal structure

The crystal structure of n-butyric acid is regular hexagonal crystal, colorless transparent, low density, liquid at room temperature. The crystal structure of butyric acid is more complex, and there is a certain degree of crystallinity, the melting point is higher, and it is mostly solid at room temperature.

2.2 solubility

Butyric acid has high solubility in water and ethanol, low melting point, and is easily soluble in organic solvents. The solubility of butyric acid is slightly lower than that of n-butyric acid, but it is better in some solvents, especially in some organic solvents.

2.3 melting point and boiling point

The melting point of n-butyric acid is 82.5°C and the boiling point is 141.0°C. Butyric acid has a melting point of 82.7°C and a boiling point of 158°C. There is little difference in the melting point between the two, but the boiling point of butyric acid is slightly higher.

3. chemical properties and reactivity

3.1 hydrogenation reaction

Butyric acid is easily hydrogenated under acidic conditions to produce butanol. Butyric acid has a weak hydrogenation ability, but it can also be hydrogenated under certain conditions.

3.2 acidity

The order of the acidity of n-butyric acid is: acetic acid> butyric acid> acetic acid> n-butyric acid. The strength of acidity reflects the difference of their molecular structure and polarity.

33 Displacement reaction

The activity of n-butyric acid in the substitution reaction is higher, and it is easy to react with alkaline substances. The substitution reaction of butyric acid is less active, but it can be carried out in some special cases.

4. Application Areas and Practical Cases

4.1 industrial applications

Butyric acid is commonly used in the manufacture of biodegradable materials, biopharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Butyric acid is mainly used in chemical synthesis, petroleum Refinery and preparation of polymer materials.

4.2 Biomedicine

Butyric acid is widely used in biomedicine, such as as an intermediate for drug synthesis and as a raw material for biodegradable materials. Butyric acid is mainly used in the manufacture of biodegradable materials and pharmaceutical intermediates.

4.3 environmental protection material

Butyric acid is widely used in the production of environmentally friendly materials, such as bioplastics and biodegradable composites. The application of butyric acid in environmental protection materials is relatively small, but it has developed rapidly in recent years.

5. production process and economic analysis

5.1 production process

The production process of n-butyric acid is relatively simple, usually using ethanol fermentation or chemical synthesis. The production process of butyric acid is more complex, mainly using chemical synthesis or acetic acid fermentation.

5.2 production cost

The production cost of n-butyric acid is low, the process is simple, and the resource consumption is less. The production cost of butyric acid is high, especially the chemical synthesis route is complex, which requires high catalyst and energy consumption.

6. summary

There are significant differences between n-butyric acid and butyric acid in molecular structure, physical properties and application fields. Due to its unbranched structure, n-butyric acid has a low melting point and boiling point, and is easily soluble in water and organic solvents. It has a wide range of applications in biomedicine and environmental protection materials. Butyric acid is often used in chemical synthesis and petroleum Refinery due to its branched chain structure and strong acidity, and plays an important role in fine production.

Through the detailed analysis of this article, readers can better understand the difference between n-butyric acid and butyric acid, so as to make a wiser choice in actual industrial applications.