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Lactic acid ( IUPAC systematic name : 2-hydroxypropanoic acid ), also known as milk acid , is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele , and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C 3 H 6 O 3 . It has a hydroxyl group adjacent to the carboxyl group, making it an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). In solution,