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
Hypophosphoric acid Hypophosphoric acid Hypophosphoric acid is a mineral acid with the formula HPO, with phosphorus in a formal oxidation state of +4. In the solid state it is present as the dihydrate, HPO·2HO. In hypophosphoric acid the phosphorus atoms are identical and joined directly with a P−P bond. There is an isomeric form isohypophosphoric acid which has a different structure with non-identical phosphorus atoms, one of which has a directly bonded H atom and an oxidation state of +3, which is joined by a P−O−P bridge to the second phosphorus atom which has an oxidation state of +5. Hypophosphoric acid can