acetoacetic acid

American

[uh-see-toh-uh-see-tik, -uh-set-ik, as-i-toh-] / əˌsi toʊ əˈsi tɪk, -əˈsɛt ɪk, ˌæs ɪ toʊ- /

noun

Chemistry.

a colorless, oily liquid, C 4 H 6 O 3 , soluble in water, alcohol, and ether: used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Etymology

Origin of acetoacetic acid

First recorded in 1895–1900; aceto- + acetic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During fasting, and in people with diabetes, the liver metabolizes fatty acids into ketone bodies called β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetic acid and acetone that are used as an energy source when glucose levels are low.

From Nature • Jul. 8, 2014

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023