TABLE 1.
Nomenclature and basic physical properties of SCFAs and MCFAs
| Number of Carbon Atoms | Systematic Name | Common Name | Formula | Melting Temperature (°C) | Boiling Temperature (°C) | pKa |
| 1 | Methanoic acid | Formic acid | HCOOH | 8.6 | 100.8 | 3.75 |
| 2 | Ethanoic acid | Acetic acid | CH3COOH | 16.5 | 118.1 | 4.75 |
| 3 | Propanoic acid | Propionic acid | CH3CH2COOH | −22.0 | 140.9 | 4.88 |
| 4 | Butanoic acid | Butyric acid | CH3(CH2)2COOH | −7.9 | 162.5 | 4.81 |
| 5 | Pentanoic acid | Valeric acid | CH3(CH2)3COOH | −34.5 | 186.4 | 4.80 |
| 6 | Hexanoic acid | Caproic acid | CH3(CH2)4COOH | −3.9 | 205 | 4.84 |
| 7 | Heptanoic acid | Oenanthic acid | CH3(CH2)5COOH | −7.5 | 223 | 4.84 |
| 8 | Octanoic acid | Caprylic acid | CH3(CH2)6COOH | 16.3 | 239 | — |
| 9 | Nonanoic acid | Pelargonic acid | CH3(CH2)7COOH | 12.3 | 254 | — |
| 10 | Decanoic acid | Capric acid | CH3(CH2)8COOH | 31.3 | 269 | — |
| 11 | Undecanoic acid | Undecylic acid | CH3(CH2)9COOH | 29.3 | 228a | — |
| 12 | Dodecanoic acid | Lauric acid | CH3(CH2)10COOH | 44 | 225a | — |
Data from (26).
a
At reduced pressure of 100 mm Hg.