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Which carboxylic acids occur in sour-milk products and citrus fruits?
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carboxylic acid
Alcohols may be oxidized to give aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids. The oxidation of organic compounds generally increases the number of bonds from carbon to oxygen, and it may decrease the number of bonds to hydrogen.
The carboxylic acids found in these products are as follows:
- Sour-milk products: Lactic acid is the primary acidic constituent found in fermented milk products, such as sour milk, cheese, and buttermilk.12
- Citrus fruits: Citric acid is the characteristic carboxylic acid present in citrus fruits.23
Both compounds are classified as hydroxyl acids and serve as important metabolic products in living cells.2