What is "adipic acid"

adipic acid \adipic acid\ an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ( HO.CO.(CH2)4.CO.OH), containing six carbon atoms in a linear chain. It is found in beet juice. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic plastics such as Nylon, as well as other products.

n. (context organic compound English) A white crystalline di-carboxylic acid, C₄H₈(COOH)₂; it has many industrial applications; when condensed with hexamethylene diamine it produces nylon.

n. a carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of nylon [syn: hexanedioic acid]

Adipic acid is the organic compound with the formula (CH)(COOH). From an industrial perspective, it is the most important dicarboxylic acid: About 2.5 billion kilograms of this white crystalline powder are produced annually, mainly as a precursor for the production of nylon. Adipic acid otherwise rarely occurs in nature.