pyromucic

Pyromucic is a term sometimes used to refer to mucic acid. Mucic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with the chemical formula C6H10O8. It is derived from the oxidation of galactose or other sugars containing six carbon atoms. It is a white crystalline solid that is insoluble in cold water but soluble in hot water. Mucic acid can be produced by treating certain sugars, such as lactose or gum arabic, with nitric acid. It was first isolated by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1780.

Historically, the term "pyromucic acid" was also used, particularly when the acid was obtained by heating certain compounds, such as mucin or gum tragacanth. This method of preparation, involving heat or pyrolysis, led to the "pyro-" prefix. However, the modern and more scientifically accepted term is mucic acid, as the method of preparation does not necessarily involve heat.

Mucic acid itself has found some limited applications. It has been used as a chelating agent and in the production of certain resins and plastics. It is also sometimes used as a reagent in analytical chemistry. While not a widely produced industrial chemical, it remains a compound of academic interest and has historical significance in the development of organic chemistry. The term pyromucic, though less common now, reflects this historical context of its preparation.