MOLECULE

Hydroxyacetone

Hydroxyacetone, also known as acetol or acetone alcohol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as alpha-hydroxy ketones. These are organic compounds containing a carboxylic acid, and an amine group attached to the alpha carbon atom, relative to the C=O group. A propanone that is acetone in which one of the methyl hydrogens is replaced by a hydroxy group. Hydroxyacetone is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Hydroxyacetone exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. Hydroxyacetone is a sweet, caramellic, and ethereal tasting compound. Outside of the human body, Hydroxyacetone is found, on average, in the highest concentration within corns. Hydroxyacetone has also been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as black cabbages, pulses, mentha, onion-family vegetables, and rapes. This could make hydroxyacetone a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Hydroxyacetone is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.