What is the Difference Between Tannins and Tannic Acid?

Tannins and tannic acid are both phenolic compounds found in plants, but they have different structures and properties. The main differences between tannins and tannic acid are:

1. Classification: Tannins are a class of organic molecules, while tannic acid is a specific type of tannin.
2. Structure: Tannins have carbohydrate backbones, whereas tannic acid specifically contains 10 galloyl (3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl) units surrounding a glucose center. Commercial tannic acid may have molecules with 2–12 galloyl moieties.
3. Acidity: Tannic acid has weak acidity due to the multiplicity of phenolic hydroxyls in its structure. Tannins, on the other hand, are not necessarily acidic.
4. Categorization: Tannins are sometimes classified as into two types, hydrolysable and condensed. Tannic acid belongs to the hydrolysable type.
5. Solubility: Tannic acid is extremely soluble in water due to the presence of phenolic hydroxyls. Tannins can be soluble in water, ethanol, or other solvents depending on their specific structure.

In summary, tannins are a broad class of phenolic compounds, while tannic acid is a specific type of tannin with a distinct structure and weak acidity.

Comparative Table: Tannins vs Tannic Acid

Tannins and tannic acid are both types of polyphenols found in plants, but they have different structures and properties. Here is a table summarizing the differences between tannins and tannic acid:

In summary, tannins are a class of organic molecules, while tannic acid is a specific type of tannin. Tannins have a variety of uses, including tanning leather and clarifying wine and beer, whereas tannic acid has anti-oxidant and anti-mutagenic effects and can be used to treat diarrhea.