Glyceric acid refers to organic compounds with the formula HOCH2CH(OH)CO2H.

It occurs naturally and is classified as three-carbon sugar acid.

Glyceric acid is usually produced by oxidation of glycerol.

A typical oxidant is nitric acid, but catalytic oxidations have been developed also:[2][3] As glycerol is prochiral, the oxidation of the two terminal alcohol groups gives distinct enantiomers of glyceric acid.

[5] Glyceric acid occurs naturally in Populus tremula and Ardisia crenata.