Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is the smallest alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid, with formula C₂H₄O₃. Its small size and water solubility make it useful in chemical synthesis, industry, and topical skin treatments.

Alpha-hydroxy acid: An organic acid with a hydroxyl group attached to the carbon next to its carboxyl group. Glycolic acid is the smallest member of this structural family.
Chemical peel: A skin treatment that applies a chemical agent to remove controlled layers of the epidermis. Glycolic acid is a common agent in superficial chemical peels.
Lactic acid: An alpha-hydroxy acid with formula C₃H₆O₃, found in fermented foods and produced in human metabolism. Its extra methyl group makes it larger than glycolic acid and alters skin penetration.
Molecular formula: A notation showing the number of each type of atom in a molecule. C₂H₄O₃ records glycolic acid’s elemental composition without specifying its structure.
Sugarcane: A tall tropical grass cultivated as a major source of sugar and biomass. Sugarcane is a natural source from which glycolic acid can be obtained.
Carboxylic acid: An organic compound containing a carboxyl group, –COOH, which can donate a proton. Its carboxyl group gives glycolic acid its acidic behavior.
Exfoliation: The removal of dead cells from the skin’s surface by chemical or physical means. Glycolic acid promotes shedding of surface cells by weakening their attachments.
Mandelic acid: An aromatic alpha-hydroxy acid with formula C₈H₈O₃, used in chemical peels and skin products. Its larger molecular structure contrasts with glycolic acid’s unusually small size.
Structural formula: A representation showing how atoms in a molecule are connected and arranged. It reveals the neighboring hydroxyl and carboxyl groups that define glycolic acid.
Beet sugar: Sucrose extracted from sugar beet roots for food and industrial uses. Sugar beet is another plant source associated with glycolic acid production.

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