At a Glance
Material Family
Acids & Salts
Record Type
Acid
Primary Role
Synthesis Intermediate · Conditioning
Functional Roles
Industries Served
Applications & Use Cases
- ▸ Formulated as the active alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) in chemical peels, exfoliating toners, and serums, where its larger molecule penetrates more slowly than glycolic acid for gentler skin resurfacing.
- ▸ Used as a chiral resolving agent in fine-chemical and intermediate manufacturing, separating racemic amines and alcohols into single enantiomers via diastereomeric salt crystallization.
- ▸ Serves as a synthesis building block for downstream esters, mandelate salts, and specialty intermediates in industrial organic chemistry.
- ▸ Incorporated into HI&I and personal-care cleaning formulations as a mild organic acid for pH adjustment and gentle descaling.
- ▸ Applied in cosmetic actives blends combining mandelic with salicylic or lactic acid for hyperpigmentation and acne-targeted topical products.
Physical Properties
appearance
White crystalline powder
melting_point
119 °C
density
1.3 g/cm3 at 25 °C
molecular_weight
152.15 g/mol
pka
3.41 (typical)
odor
Faint sweet odor
Safety & Handling
Full SDS available on request
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Chemical Identity
CAS Number
90-64-2
Molecular Formula
C8H8O3
Molecular Weight
152.15 g/mol
IUPAC Name
2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetic acid
PubChem CID
InChI Key
IWYDHOAUDWTVEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Synonyms & Trade Names
Related Products
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA, 49 CFR 172.101, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot purchased governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information. Trademarks. Third-party trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners; any reference is nominative — used only to identify a comparable product — and does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by the trademark owner.