levulinic acid

[ lev-yuh-lin-ik, lev- ]
/ ˈlɛv yəˈlɪn ɪk, ˌlɛv- /

noun Chemistry.

a white or colorless, water-soluble solid, C5H8O3, produced by the hydrolysis of cane sugar, starch, or cellulose; used chiefly in the organic synthesis of nylon, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

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Origin of levulinic acid

levul(ose) + -in2 + -ic

Words nearby levulinic acid

levorotatory, levorphanol, levorphanol tartrate, levotorsion, levoversion, levulinic acid, levulose, levulosemia, levy, levy en masse, lew
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020