butyric acid is apparently a dangerous corrosive substance, what does butyric acid actually consist of? If you have it at home, how can you dispose of it, dump it in the sink or kga?
Answer
Dear Maxime
I think you’re not referring to butyric acid so much but rather gamma hydroxybutyric acid and more specifically its carboxylate (salt).
Butyric acid is a product that forms when butter goes rancid, mainly smells, but as far as I know it is not really toxic, no more problematic than acetic acid. The difference is that acetic acid contains two carbon atoms and butyric acid contains four. Another name is butanoic acid.
Gamma hydroxybutyric acid, on the other hand, is a drug, also called a “rape” drug, and as a salt soluble in water and therefore miscible with any soft drink you might drink and with which one would have tampered with. Also called liquid Ecstasy. In addition, it is synergistic with ethanol (alcohol). That is, it enhances the effect of alcohol, so in combination with alcohol you get drunk to a much greater extent, even resulting in alcohol intoxication. That makes it very dangerous!
hope this helps
Regards
Answered by
Prof. dr. Dirk Vanderzande
Agoralaan University Campus Building D BE-3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.uhasselt.be/
.