Tartaric acid, or 2,3- dihydroxybutanedioic acid, is denoted by the chemical formula C₄H₆O₆ and has a molecular weight of 150.09. It is a compound of particular importance to the historical development of organic chemistry. It as been known to humans for centuries. Ancient Greeks and Romans observed it in its potassium salt form as a by-product in the production of wine. The name tartaric acid is a derivation of the medieval, alchemical term tartarus. The acid was first isolated and studied in 1769 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele. He obtained the compound by boiling cream of tartar with chalk and then treating it with sulfuric acid.

As tartaric acid possesses two stereogenic carbon atoms, it exists in three stereoisomeric forms. The form of most importance is the (2R, 3R)-(+)- tartaric acid form, that is found in many fruits as both the free acid (tartaric) or...