acetoacetic acid

chemical compound

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July 23, 2026

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Acetoacetic acid is an unstable acid with the chemical formula C₄H₆O₃. It is a type of beta-keto acid and is considered a ketone body. In conditions like diabetes, acetoacetic acid is found in abnormal quantities in the blood and urine.1

When heated, acetoacetic acid loses carbon dioxide to form acetone, represented by the equation: CH₃COCH₂COOH → CH₃COCH₃ + CO₂. This acid is also the starting compound for a series of reactions known as the acetoacetic ester synthesis, which is used to create alpha-substituted acetones.2

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carboxylic acid
Hydroxy and keto acids
Pyruvic acid and acetoacetic acid are the simplest and most important of the α-keto and β-keto acids, respectively.
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Pyruvic acid and acetoacetic acid are the simplest and most important of the α-keto and β-keto acids, respectively.
Read More