What Is CCl₃COOH Called?

CCl₃COOH is called trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

Nomenclature:

IUPAC Name:

• 2,2,2-trichloroethanoic acid
• "Ethanoic acid" = 2-carbon carboxylic acid (acetic acid base)
• "2,2,2-trichloro" = three chlorine substituents

Common Name:

• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) - most widely used
• Abbreviated as TCA in scientific literature

Structure:

• CCl₃-COOH
• Carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH)
• Three chlorine atoms on the alpha carbon

Properties:

• Strong acid (pKa ≈ 0.66)
• Much stronger than acetic acid (pKa 4.76)
• Electron-withdrawing effect of Cl atoms increases acidity
• Colorless crystalline solid
• Deliquescent (absorbs moisture from air)

Applications:

1. Biochemistry:

• Protein precipitation
• DNA/RNA purification
• Removal of tannins

2. Medical:

• Chemical peeling agent in dermatology
• Wart removal
• Skin lesion treatment

3. Analytical Chemistry:

• Sample preparation
• Protein analysis

Key Takeaways:

• Common name: trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
• IUPAC: 2,2,2-trichloroethanoic acid
• Formula: CCl₃COOH
• Strong acid due to electron-withdrawing chlorines