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Pyruvate, pyruvic acid overview
Pyruvate or pyruvic acid is involved in one of the central biochemical pathway. Pyruvate is an intermediate of the glycolysis. Pyruvate can be converted to lactate of ethanol by lactate dehydrogenase or by pyruvate decarboxylase + alcohol dehydrogenase, respectively.
Recent experiments carried by Gunter Wachtershauser shows, that pyruvic acid can be synthesized without living organisms. Iron-rich soil together with hot evaporation from thermal vents can synthesize the pyruvic acid.
Pyruvate, general properties
| Chemical name: |
2-oxopropanoic acid
α-ketopropionic acid
acetylformic acid
pyroracemic acid
Pyr
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| Chemical formula |
C3H4O3 |
| Molecular weight |
88.06 g/mol |
| Density |
1.25 g x cm-3 |
| Melting point |
11.8°C |
| Boiling point |
165°C |
| Smiles
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CC(C(O)=O)=O
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