Comparing E296 - Malic acid vs E355 - Adipic acid
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 11,508 products
Found in 771 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is malic acid bad for you?
No—at normal food levels it’s considered safe (GRAS in the U.S. and authorized in the EU); very high intakes or very sour products can irritate the mouth or stomach.
Is malic acid gluten free?
Yes. Malic acid is inherently gluten-free; check the overall product for other gluten-containing ingredients.
What is malic acid used for?
It’s an acidulant that provides a tart, apple-like sourness and adjusts pH in foods and drinks, commonly in beverages, candies, and fruit preparations.
Is malic acid bad for your teeth?
Acids like malic acid can contribute to enamel erosion with frequent exposure (e.g., sour candies, acidic drinks); limiting contact time and rinsing with water can help.
Is malic acid vegan?
Yes—malic acid is typically vegan, made synthetically or by microbial fermentation without animal-derived inputs, though other ingredients in a product may not be.
What is adipic acid used for?
In foods (E355) it’s an acidulant that provides a clean, persistent tartness and pH control in powdered drink mixes, gelatin desserts, chewing gum, and as a slow-acting leavening acid in baking powders.
How is adipic acid made?
Industrial production mainly oxidizes a cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol (KA oil) mixture with nitric acid, which generates nitrous oxide; newer routes use catalytic oxygen processes or bio-based fermentations.
Is adipic acid polar or nonpolar?
Polar, due to its two carboxylic acid groups (though its six‑carbon chain makes it less polar than shorter dicarboxylic acids).
Is adipic acid soluble in water?
Sparingly soluble in cold water (about 1.5 g/100 mL at ~25°C), with solubility increasing substantially at higher temperatures.
(3) could you substitute adipoyl chloride with adipic acid in this reaction? explain why or why not?
Not directly—acid chlorides are far more reactive acylating agents, so adipoyl chloride reacts with amines at mild conditions, whereas adipic acid generally requires activation (e.g., conversion to the acid chloride/anhydride or use of coupling/dehydrating agents) or high‑temperature condensation.