Terephthalic acid Terephthalic acid Terephthalic acid is an organic compound with formula CH(COH). This white solid is a commodity chemical, used principally as a precursor to the polyester PET, used to make clothing and plastic bottles. Several million tonnes are produced annually. The common name is derived from the turpentine-producing tree "Pistacia terebinthus" and phthalic acid. Terephthalic acid was first isolated (from turpentine) by the French chemist Amédée Cailliot (1805–1884) in 1846. Terephthalic acid became industrially important after World War II. Terephthalic acid was produced by oxidation of "p"-xylene with dilute nitric acid. Air oxidation of "p"-xylene gives "p"-toluic acid, which resists
Chromotropic acid uses chromotropic acid. Chromotropic acid Chromotropic acid has the formula is (HO)CH(SOH). It can be used for as a reagent in the quantitative determination of the systemic herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Chromotropic acid is also used for testing of presence of formaldehyde. The usefulness of this reagent in quantitative determination is the formation of a red colouration (peaking at 580 nm wavelength) when chromotropic acid in 50% sulfuric acid reacts with formaldehyde. The colouration is specific to this aldehyde and is not produced from other organic species such as ketones and carboxylic acids. The NIOSH Formaldehyde method #3500 is the reference