folic acid

English

Etymology

From Latin folium (leaf), from its occurrence in leafy vegetables.

Noun

folic acid (uncountable)

  1. (biochemistry, organic chemistry) A polycyclic heterocyclic carboxylic acid, one of the vitamin B complex, essential for cell growth and reproduction
    Synonyms: vitamin B9, vitamin Bc, vitamin M, pteroylglutamic acid

Usage notes

Do not confuse folic acid (a vitamin) with folinic acid (a chemotherapeutic medication).

Coordinate terms

  • folate (coordinate as a base versus an acid, but synonymous in the practical sense that the conjugate base and conjugate acid coexist in solution)

Translations

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