Molekula
Propionic acid - USP specification
Supplying 4,500+ customers in over 80 countries
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 certified · Supplying laboratories and industry since 2000 · Listed pack sizes are a starting point — we manufacture, source and repack to the quantity you need
Propionic acid (CAS 79-09-4) is a naturally occurring, colorless liquid carboxylic acid with a pungent odor, widely used as a preservative in food, animal feed, and pharmaceuticals to inhibit mold and bacteria growth. It also serves as a building block in chemical synthesis, including plastics and fragrances. This USP-grade propionic acid has the molecular formula CH3CH2COOH and a molecular weight of 74.08. It is stored at ambient conditions, requires careful handling (Signal Word: Danger), and meets strict pharmaceutical standards. Molekula supplies Propionic acid from research to bulk quantities with full documentation and ISO 9001:2015 traceability.
Example image for illustration only. Other packaging and pack sizes are available.
Pricing & pack sizes
Pack sizes & pricing
Pricing on request — packs available from research to bulk quantities.
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Tell us how much you need and when — drums, IBCs, sacks or a one-off bulk lot. We'll manufacture or source it and come back with a price.
Prices exclude VAT/sales tax and shipping.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear colourless liquid |
| Specific Gravity | 0.988 - 0.993 |
| Specification | Complies with USP, FCC, BP specifications |
| Solubility | Soluble in water, ethanol, ethyl ether and propylene glycol. |
| Natural Degree (C14 Test) | 98 ± 3% |
| Moisture | ≤ 0.5% |
| Distillation Range | 138.5 - 142.5°C |
| Heavy Metals (Pb) | ≤ 0.001% |
| Residue on Evaporation | ≤ 0.01% |
| Assay (Anhydrous) | 99.5 - 100.5% |
| Identification (IR) | Conforms to Reference |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤ 0.0003% |
| Limit of Aldehydes | Complies with specifications |
| Limit of Non-volatile Residue | ≤ 0.01% |
| Refractive Index (20ºC) | 1.383 - 1.385 |
| Readily Oxidizable Substances | Complies with specifications |
| Acid Value (mg KOH/g) | 320 - 329mgKOH/g |
| Endotoxin Concentration (EU/mL) | <5 EU/mL |
| Identification (RAMAN) | Conforms to Reference |
Storage & handling
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | Ambient |
| Flash Point | 53 °C |
| Transport Class | 8 (3) |
| Packing Group | II |
| Acidity | Acid |
Literature values
Published physical properties of the substance, not batch specifications.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colorless liquid |
| Odour | Slightly pungent disagreeable, rancid odor |
| Melting Point | -20.7 °C |
| Boiling Point | 141.1 °C |
| Density | 0.99 (relative, water = 1) |
| Water Solubility | 1000 g/L at 25 °C (miscible) |
| Solubility (other solvents) | Miscible with ethanol; soluble in diethyl ether; slightly soluble in chloroform |
| Vapour Pressure | 0.39 kPa at 20 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.3869 |
| pKa | pKa = 4.88 |
| log P (octanol/water) | 0.33 |
Source: PubChem CID 1032 (HSDB, DrugBank, ICSC)
Identification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 90034475 |
| CAS Number | 79-09-4 |
| IUPAC Name | propanoic acid |
| EC Number | 201-176-3 |
| Molecular Formula | CH3CH2COOH |
| Molecular Weight | 74.08 |
| Exact Mass | 74.0368 |
| SMILES | CCC(=O)O |
| InChIKey | XBDQKXXYIPTUBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| InChI | InChI=1S/C3H6O2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3,(H,4,5) |
| PubChem CID | 1032 |
| UN Number | UN3463 |
| REACH Code | Y110 |
| TSCA Listed | Yes |
| HTS Code | 29155010 |
| Tariff Code | 2915500000 |
Safety & GHS
-
Flammable
GHS02
-
Corrosive
GHS05
-
Toxic
GHS06
Hazard statements
- H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
- H302+332 Harmful if swallowed or inhaled
- H311 Toxic in contact with skin
- H314 (sub cat. 1B) Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
Precautionary statements
- P210 Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces - No smoking
- P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray
- P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
- P303+361 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse with water/shower
- P305+351+338 IF IN EYES: Rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing
- P307+311 IF exposed: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician
Documents
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) by batch
Enter a lot or batch number to retrieve the CoA for that specific batch. We can generate one from spec data if no PDF is on file.
Synonyms
No alternate names recorded for this product.
Frequently asked questions
What is propionic acid USP used for?
Propionic acid USP is primarily used in food preservation (e.g., bread and animal feed additives), pharmaceuticals, and as an intermediate in chemical synthesis.
What is the chemical formula and molecular weight of propionic acid?
The chemical formula is **CH₃CH₂COOH** with a molecular weight of **74.08 g/mol**.
How should propionic acid USP be stored?
Store in a tightly sealed container at **ambient temperature**, away from heat, sparks, and open flames.
What grade of propionic acid does Molekula supply?
Molekula supplies **USP-grade propionic acid**, meeting pharmaceutical and food-grade purity standards.
Can Molekula supply propionic acid in bulk quantities?
Yes, we offer bulk quantities of propionic acid USP for industrial and commercial applications—contact us for specific packaging options.
What documentation comes with a propionic acid USP order?
Each order includes a **Certificate of Analysis (CoA)**, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and batch-specific documentation for traceability.
Ready to order or need a custom pack?
Tell us the product, grade, and quantity — Molekula usually responds within one working day with pricing and lead time.