Acetic Acid

Acetic acid: molecular structure (left upper), crystals (left lower) and reagent grade acetic acid (right).

Acetic acid is a colourless liquid organic compound with the chemical formula CH3COOH. Vinegar is roughly 3–9% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component of vinegar apart from water. It is also a precursor to polyvinyl acetate and cellulose acetate. Production is by: methanol carbonylation, acetaldehyde oxidation, ethylene oxidation, oxidative fermentation and anaerobic fermentation. Main uses: Vinyl acetate monomer, Ester production, Acetic anhydride, Use as solvent, Medical use, Vinegar.

Commonly Available Forms

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Impure but can be cheaper + less Embodied Energy etc
• Flavor can be useful for some cooking too
• Malt Vinegar and Rice Vinegar etc also fall in this category

White Vinegar/ Distilled Vinegar

• Usually pretty dilute, but mostly pure
• If you get the right glassware you can concentrate it down too

30% Acetic Acid

• Sold for cleaning supplies
• Starts getting into the territory of spills/skin contact being dangerous etc (Although still nothing compared to 99% Concentration Sulfuric Acid etc, but still)

Glacial Acetic Acid

• Not as available

Internal Links

• Acetic Anhydride
• Ethanol
• Acetate
• Vinegar as herbicide
• Cellulose acetate
• Biochemicals from Pyrolysis
• Wood Preservation by Carbonization - a process that gives off acetic acid and methanol

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Acetic Acid