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Limonene
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<p>Limonene is a colorless liquid <a href="/facts/Aliphatic/9usN3neo">aliphatic</a> <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a> classified as a cyclic <a href="/facts/Monoterpene/6kFBtsXM">monoterpene</a>, and is the major component in the <a href="/facts/Essential_oil/cq8V5ocP">essential oil</a> of <a href="/facts/Citrus_fruit/6FqG38Dk">citrus fruit</a> <a href="/facts/Peel_(fruit)/p9J9Kp35">peels</a>. The (+)-<a href="/facts/Isomer/PXlvDVdg">isomer</a>, occurring more commonly in nature as the fragrance of oranges, is a flavoring agent in food manufacturing. It is also used in chemical synthesis as a <a href="/facts/Precursor_(chemistry)/dUw8Mx2Y">precursor</a> to <a href="/facts/Carvone/kRlf8KH6">carvone</a> and as a renewables-based <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvent</a> in <a href="/facts/Cleaning_product/L3Jp6f1f">cleaning products</a>. The less common (−)-<a href="/facts/Isomer/PXlvDVdg">isomer</a> has a <a href="/facts/Pine/HvMa9uc1">piny</a>, <a href="/facts/Turpentine/ME2Lgu0K">turpentine</a>-like odor, and is found in the edible parts of such plants as <a href="/facts/Caraway/zzh59Mxs">caraway</a>, <a href="/facts/Dill/r8oX6q9h">dill</a>, and <a href="/facts/Bergamot_orange/bNcrSLhS">bergamot orange</a> plants. </p><p>Limonene takes its name from <a href="/facts/Italian_language/YXsmvlQG">Italian</a> <i>limone</i> ("<a href="/facts/Lemon/dYYzVCVq">lemon</a>"). Limonene is a <a href="/facts/Chirality_(chemistry)/p5a9pftB">chiral</a> molecule, and biological sources produce one <a href="/facts/Enantiomer/wjPv5J3y">enantiomer</a>: the principal industrial source, <a href="/facts/Citrus_fruit/6FqG38Dk">citrus fruit</a>, contains (+)-limonene (<i>d</i>-limonene), which is the <a href="/facts/Cahn%25E2%2580%2593Ingold%25E2%2580%2593Prelog_priority_rules/nkVS9xAq">(<i>R</i>)</a>-enantiomer. (+)-Limonene is obtained commercially from citrus fruits through two primary methods: <a href="/facts/Centrifugal_separation/q9WkB8T4">centrifugal separation</a> or <a href="/facts/Steam_distillation/tYEIIkqq">steam distillation</a>. </p>