mandelic acid

[ man-del-ik, -dee-lik ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of three stereoisomeric acids having the formula C 8 H 8 O 3 , especially dl-mandelic acid, a white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid obtainable from amygdalin: used chiefly in medicine as an antiseptic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandelic acid¹

1835–45; < German Mandel almond + -ic

Example Sentences

Ladenburg has also formed a series of artificial alkaloids, called tropeines, by uniting the base tropine with different organic acids, as in the case of the compound of mandelic acid and tropine, known as homatropine, an alkaloid of action similar to atropine, but possessing some decided advantages in its use.

From Project Gutenberg