Hydroxycarboxylic acid

Hydroxycarboxylic acids are carboxylic acids containing one or more hydroxy functional groups. They are of particular interest because several are bioactive and some are useful precursors to polyesters.
The inventory is large.

Important or common examples

Glycolic acid,, the parent hydroxycarboxylic acid, precursor to lacquers
Hydroxypropionic acids, e.g., , component of milk. chiral
Hydroxybutyric acids, , carbon-storage compound
Citric acid,, energy-carrying compound and iron-chelator
Salicylic acid,, precursor to aspirin
Ricinoleic acid ), a major component of the seed oil obtained from castor plant
Common amino acids:
*Serine,
*Threonine
*Tyrosine,
Aldonic acids are sugar acids with the general chemical formula, HO₂C_nCH₂OH.
*Gluconic acid, a particularly common aldonic acid, the oxidized derivative of glucose
Subclasses

Classes of hydroxycarboxylic acid are named by where the hydroxy group is on the carbon chain relative to the carboxylic group.