The molecule is a dihydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is dodecanoic acid (lauric acid) in which a hydrogen at position 2 and a hydrogen at position 3 have each been replaced by a hydroxy group. It is a dihydroxy monocarboxylic acid and a medium-chain fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 2,3-dihydroxydodecanoate.
2,3-dihydroxydodecanoic acid