Glyoxylic acid is a 2-oxo monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid bearing an oxo group at the alpha carbon atom.
Definition
Glyoxylic acid is a 2-oxo monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid bearing an oxo group at the alpha carbon atom. It has a role as a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite and a human metabolite. It is an aldehydic acid and a 2-oxo monocarboxylic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a glyoxylate.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII JQ39C92HH6 · registered name Glyoxylic Acid · single chemical substance
Glyoxylic Acid is the organic acid that conforms to the formula
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name グリオキシル酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機酸である｡
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 298-12-4
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 206-058-5
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID5021594
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID401594
- IUPAC
- Oxoacetic acid
- Molecular formula
- C2H2O3
- Molecular weight
- 74.035 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Supplied as a 50% aqueous solution. Colorless to straw yellow. (USCG, 1999) · CBI, Liquid
- Odour
- Obnoxious odor
- Melting point
- 98 °C · Crystals from water, melting point: 70-75 °C, obnoxious odor, strong corrosive acid, K= 4.6X10-4, deliquesces, attacks most stable metals except certain stainless steel alloys, aq soln tend to acquire a yellow tint. /glyoxylic acid hemihydrate/
- Solubility
- Very soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, and benzene
- Density
- 1.342 (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water, will sink · 1.42 @ 20 °C/4 °C
- Stability
- FORMS A SYRUP ON SHORT EXPOSURE TO AIR /GLYOXYLIC ACID HEMIHYDRATE/
- Dissociation constant
- 3.3 (at 25 °C) · pKa = 3.30 @ 25 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Melting/freezing point
- 98 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 225 ℃
- Flash point
- 104 ℃
- Vapour pressure
- 1.06 ㎜Hg (at 25℃)
- Water solubility
- ( 1000 g/L at 25℃)
- Vapour density
- &, gt, 1
- Relative density
- 1.42 ()
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- -1.40 ()
- Molecular weight
- 74.04
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 7 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- pH regulating agent3
- Corrosion inhibitor1
- Hair waving or straightening (EPA)1
- Intermediate1
- Anti-static agent1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
5 skin studies and 3 eye studies are on record.
The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 33%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 8 studies
- Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening - Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to - High Frequency of Sensitization
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay) - Category 8.2C (Category 1C)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 8.3A (Category 1)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Entangled Event of AKI: A Case Report of Glyoxylic Acid-Associated AKI Following Hair Straightening Treatment · 2025
- #3665 Glyoxylic acid induce crystalline nephropathy and hair-straightening products: a case report · 2025
- Effects of Glyoxylic Acid on Metabolism and Ripening of ‘Rocha’ Pears Treated with 1-MCP · 2025
- Hair-straightening cosmetics containing glyoxylic acid induce crystalline nephropathy. · 2024
- Extraction and Surfactant Properties of Glyoxylic Acid‐Functionalized Lignin · 2022
Linked databases 19
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese