** Systematic nomenclature of glycolic acid **

glycolic acid, its IUPAC name is 2-hydroxyacetic acid (2-hydroxyacetic acid). This nomenclature follows the systematic nomenclature for organic compounds. Structurally, the main chain of the compound is a carboxylic acid containing two carbon atoms, and the carboxyl group (-COOH) is the parent functional group. There is a hydroxyl (-OH) substituent at the ortho-position of the carbon atom connected to the carboxyl group, so it is named 2-hydroxyacetic acid according to the nomenclature. This naming method can accurately reflect the structural characteristics of glycolic acid molecules, allowing chemists to know their basic carbon skeleton and functional group location distribution by name. In the fields of chemical research, academic exchanges, and industrial production, uniform and accurate IUPAC naming is of crucial significance for the identification, research, and application of compounds.