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
Mesoxalic acid Mesoxalic acid Mesoxalic acid, also called oxomalonic acid or ketomalonic acid, is an organic compound with formula CHO or HO-(C=O)-OH. Mesoxalic acid is both a dicarboxylic acid and a ketonic acid. It readily loses two protons to yield the divalent anion CO, called mesoxalate, oxomalonate, or ketomalonate. These terms are also used for salts containing this anion, such as sodium mesoxalate, NaCO; and for esters containing the -CO- or -O-(C=O)-O- moiety, such as diethyl mesoxalate, (CH)CO. Mesoxalate is one of the oxocarbon anions, which (like carbonate CO and oxalate CO) consist solely of carbon and oxygen. Mesoxalic acid readily absorbs