Acid phosphatases (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolases, acid optimum, EC 3.1.3.2) of low molecular weight were isolated from cytosol and chromatin of rat liver cells. The cytosolic enzyme was homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at pH 8.3 (mol. wt. 16 000+/-3000). Both enzymes showed similar electrophoretic mobility and molecular weight but they differed in substrate specificity, response to inhibitors and susceptibility to SH-protecting reagents.