Orsellinic acid
Encyclopedia
Orsellinic acid, more specifically o-orsellinic acid, is an organic acid
. It is of importance in the biochemistry of lichen
s, from which it can be extracted. It can also be prepared by the oxidation of orcyl aldehyde.
This is also produced when everninic acid and ramalic acid is boiled with barium hydroxide
. It forms colorless crystals in the form of needles which on rapid heating melt with decomposition in the neighborhood of 175 °C.
Organic acid
An organic acid is an organic compound with acidic properties. The most common organic acids are the carboxylic acids, whose acidity is associated with their carboxyl group –COOH. Sulfonic acids, containing the group –SO2OH, are relatively stronger acids. The relative stability of the conjugate...
. It is of importance in the biochemistry of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s, from which it can be extracted. It can also be prepared by the oxidation of orcyl aldehyde.
This is also produced when everninic acid and ramalic acid is boiled with barium hydroxide
Barium hydroxide
Barium hydroxide is the chemical compound with the formula Ba2. Also known as baryta, it is one of the principal compounds of barium. The white granular monohydrate is the usual commercial form.-Preparation:...
. It forms colorless crystals in the form of needles which on rapid heating melt with decomposition in the neighborhood of 175 °C.