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Topic summary

Pyruvic acid

Related topics
Names Preferred IUPAC name
2-Oxopropanoic acid
Systematic IUPAC name
2-Oxopropanoic acid
Other names
2-Oxopropionic acid
Pyruvic acid
α-Ketopropionic acid
Acetylformic acid
Pyroracemic acid
Acetylcarboxylic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations Pyr ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard100.004.387
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C3H4O3/c1-2(4)3(5)6/h1H3,(H,5,6)
    Key: LCTONWCANYUPML-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • O=C(C(=O)O)C
Properties C3H4O3Molar mass88.06g/mol Density1.250g/cm Melting point11.8 °C (53.2 °F; 284.9 K) Boiling point165 °C (329 °F; 438 K) Acidity (pKa) 2.50 Related compounds
Other anions
Pyruvate

Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH) is the simplest of the alpha-keto acids, with a carboxylic acid and a ketone functional group. Pyruvate, the conjugate base, CH3COCOO, is an intermediate in several metabolic pathways throughout the cell.

Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates (such as glucose) via gluconeogenesis, or converted to fatty acids through a reaction via acetyl-CoA. It can also be used to construct the amino acid alanine and can be converted into ethanol or lactic acid via fermentation.

Pyruvic acid supplies energy to cells through the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle) when oxygen is present (aerobic respiration), and alternatively ferments to produce lactate when oxygen is lacking.

Wikipedia source