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EC number: 200-018-0 | CAS number: 50-21-5
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Melting point / freezing point
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- melting point/freezing point
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Study period:
- 2002-01-15 to 2002-05-31
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions
- Qualifier:
- equivalent or similar to guideline
- Guideline:
- EU Method A.1 (Melting / Freezing Temperature)
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Type of method:
- other: heating with visual confirmation of melting
- Specific details on test material used for the study:
- true racemic mixture
- Key result
- Melting / freezing pt.:
- 18 °C
- Atm. press.:
- 1 013.15 hPa
- Conclusions:
- The melting point of a racemic mixture of lactic acid is 18 °C.
- Executive summary:
In a non-GLP study, similar to EU Method A.1, the melting point of lactic acid has been investigated. In the course of this study, it became apparent that there is a strong correlation between the melting point and the content of each enantiomer in the racemic lactic acid. Chiral pure lactic acid has a melting point of 53 °C. Mixtures of R- and S-lactic acid have a decreased melting point, with a eutectic point at a 50:50 mixture at 18 °C.
- Endpoint:
- melting point/freezing point
- Type of information:
- other: Handbook data
- Adequacy of study:
- supporting study
- Study period:
- 1971
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- data from handbook or collection of data
- Qualifier:
- no guideline available
- Guideline:
- other: handbook data
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Melting / freezing pt.:
- >= 16.8 - <= 33 °C
- Atm. press.:
- 1 013.15 hPa
- Conclusions:
- The melting point of lactic acid racemic mixture is between 16.8 °C and 33 °C.
- Executive summary:
According to Holten, the melting point of lactic acid racemic mixture is between 16.8 °C and 33 °C.
Referenceopen allclose all
Lactic acid (S/(R+S)*100) |
Lactic acid (R/(R+S)*100) |
Melting point (°C) |
50 45 40 30 20 10 0 |
50 55 60 70 80 90 100 |
18.0 22.5 27.5 35.0 41.5 47.0 53.0 |
The melting point of lactid acid is influenced by the amount of lactic esters in the mixtures. Vacuum destillation is used to free the substance from ester impurities.
Holten reports the following melting points for the racemic mixture of lactic acid: 16.8 °C, 28 - 33 °C.
When one of the optically active isomers is present in excess, the melting point is higher.
Description of key information
The melting point of crystalline lactic acid (racemic mixture) is about 18 °C.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Melting / freezing point at 101 325 Pa:
- 18 °C
Additional information
In a non-GLP study, similar to EU Method A.1, the melting point of lactic acid has been investigated. In the course of this study, it became apparent that there is a strong correlation between the melting point and the content of each enantiomer in the racemic lactic acid. Chiral pure lactic acid has a melting point of 53 °C. Mixtures of R- and S-lactic acid have a decreased melting point, with a eutectic point at a 50:50 mixture at 18 °C.
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