What is Lactice Acid?

Answer 1

Answer

Lactic acid is as the name suggests, an acid that builds up in the body during intense bouts of physical activity. It is a by-product of the lacic acid energy system which is the predominant energy system from about the 10 second mark to the 40 second mark of maximum physical exertion. The most common sporting example of when the lactic acid system is predominant is during a 400m sprint.

Lactic acid is made up of two main components. They are Lactate, and Hydrogen ions (H+). Lactate is a non fatiguing by-product of the lactic acid system. In fact, lactate is used to produce energy in the liver through a process call "glyconeogenesis". H+ is a fatiguing by-product of the lactic acid system. Its acidic nature inhibits the function of glycolytic enzymes. Glycolytic enzymes are essential, in that, they are used to produce glycogen. This process is call "muscle acidosis".

Answer 2

Lactic acid is a chemical compound that plays a role in various biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Lactic acid is a carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C₂H₄OHCOOH.