Cl3CCOOH

Cl3CCOOH is the chemical formula for trichloroacetic acid. It is a carboxylic acid with the formula CCl3COOH. It is a white, crystalline solid at room temperature and is soluble in water and many organic solvents. Trichloroacetic acid is a strong acid, with a pKa of 0.65, making it significantly more acidic than acetic acid. This enhanced acidity is due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the three chlorine atoms attached to the alpha-carbon.

Trichloroacetic acid is used in various laboratory and industrial applications. In biochemistry and molecular biology, it is commonly employed as a precipitating agent for proteins and nucleic acids. Its strong acidic nature denatures proteins, causing them to aggregate and precipitate out of solution, allowing for their separation and purification. It is also used in the preparation of other organic compounds and as a reagent in chemical synthesis. In medicine, dilute solutions of trichloroacetic acid are used as a chemical peel for skin treatments, to remove warts, and to treat certain skin lesions. However, its use requires careful administration due to its corrosive nature. Due to its corrosive properties, it should be handled with appropriate safety precautions, including the use of gloves and eye protection.