Dichloroacetic Acid Formula: Structure, Properties & Uses

Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is an organochlorine chemical that is a white crystalline solid with a chlorine odour. Bichloracetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, and Dichloroacetate are some of the other names for it. Dichloroacetic acid is employed as a fungicide, a topical astringent, and a chemical intermediary in the production of organic compounds. Dichloroacetic acid is found in drinking water and swimming pools as a by-product for disinfecting. Salts and esters of dichloroacetate have a variety of uses. The salts of DCA block the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and the researcher looks into them as possible medicines.

Read More: Concepts in Chemistry

Key Takeaways: Dichloroacetic Acid, Ester, Enzymes, Molecular Formula, Linear formula, Organochlorine.

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Formula and Structure of Dichloroacetic Acid

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• The molecular formula of Dichloroacetic acid is C₂H₂Cl₂O₂.
• The linear formula of Dichloroacetic acid is CHCl₂COOH.
• The code of Simplified molecular-input line-entry system (Smiles) in Dichloroacetic Acid is C(C(=O)O)(Cl)Cl.

Structure of Dichloroacetic acid

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Properties of Dichloroacetic Acid

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• The IUPAC name of Dichloroacetic acid is 2,2-dichloroacetic acid. 
• The molecular mass of Dichloroacetic acid is 128.94 g/mol.
• Usually, the melting and boiling point of Dichloroacetic acid is 9 to 110C and 1940C.
• The Density is Dichloroacetic acid 1.563 g/cm³.
• Solubility of Dichloroacetic acid is miscible in water, ethanol, and diethyl ether.
• It's a colourless, solid substance with a pungent stench that mixes quickly with water and corrodes metals and tissues.

Dichloroacetic acid

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Characteristics of Dichloroacetic Acid

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• Dichloroacetic Acid is an analog of acetic acid where two of the three hydrogen atoms in the methyl group are swapped by chlorine atoms.
• The hydrogen bond giver and recipient have values of 1 and 2 correspondingly, and the rotatable bond count is 1.

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Occurrence of Dichloroacetic Acid

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It can be found in nature in the seaweed asparagus taxiformis. It also functions as an astringent and as a marine metabolite. It is also an organochlorine chemical and a monocarboxylic acid. It is the conjugate acid of dichloroacetate and can be made from acetic acid.

Seaweed

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Health and Safety Concern

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• When Dichloroacetic acid users inhale fumes or come into direct touch with their skin. Fumes, drinking water, swimming pools, and cutaneous contact may further contaminate the general public. Furthermore, some patients came into touch with dichloroacetic acid-containing drugs.
• Dichloroacetic acid is a Highly reactive Toxin that can cause serious damage to the skin, blisters, and perhaps even lead to permanent vision problems. 
• Dichloroacetic Acid can affect the nasal passages when inhaled. Dichloroacetic Acid can damage the lungs and cause wheezing and/or breathlessness when inhaled.
• Postmenopausal research in women looked at the link between kidney cancer and attention to dichloroacetic acid or other disinfectant by-products.
• It produces significant eye discomfort in lab animals. 
• Scientists have discovered that it damages the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, brain, and other organs in lab experiments on laboratory animals given relatively low oral dosages over time.

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Uses of Dichloroacetic Acid

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• Dichloroacetic acid can be used to treat cardiac weakness after ischemic relief.
• It has been discovered that using DCA slows the formation of various tumours in mammals and in vitro experiments.
• By binding ribosome receptor sites, DCA can also be utilised to limit bacterial protein production.
• Both DCA and TCA are used for beauty treatments such as tattoo removal and chemical peels.
• Dichloroacetic acid is beneficial in improving patient outcomes in infants with hereditary lactic acidosis.

Helps in the treatment of Cancer

• Skin damages such as tanning, itchy skin, patchy skin, acne problems.
• Permanent eyesight loss.
• Eye damages such as irritation, itching, and watery eyes.
• Respiratory problems such as discomfort in the nose, throat, lungs, and nasal passage. 
• Intaking Dichloroacetic acid may lead to damage to the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and brain.

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Things to Remember

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• The molecular formula of Dichloroacetic acid is C₂H₂Cl₂O₂.
• The linear formula of Dichloroacetic acid is CHCl₂COOH.
• The code of Smiles in Dichloroacetic Acid is C(C(=O)O)(Cl)Cl.
• IUPAC name 2,2-dichloroacetic acid. 
• Density 1.563 g/cm³.
• Molecular Mass 128.94 g/mol.
• Dichloroacetic Acid is an acetic acid homolog. Chlorine atoms replace two of the three hydrogen atoms in the methyl group. The rotatable bond count is 1, and the hydrogen bond donor and recipient have values of 1 and 2 respectively.

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