Acetic acid is known as ethanoic acid and methane carboxylic acid is a colorless liquid
that has a strong and distinct pungent and sour smell. Its chemical formula is C2H4O2. It
has two carbon (C) atoms, four hydrogen (H) atoms and two oxygen (O) atoms. Because
it has a carbon in its chemical formula, it is an organic compound. Vinegar is a household
essential often used for cooking. What chemical substance makes vinegar smell the way
it does? Vinegar is actually a solution that is made of 4-8% of acetic acid that is
dissolved in water and other substances that give vinegar its flavor depending on its type.
Acetic acid is one of the simplest carboxylic acid. The chemical structure of carboxylic
acid is:
The global demand of acetic acid is around 6.5 million tonnes per year (mt/a).Pure acetic
acid is very useful because it acts as a hygroscopic liquid. The acetic acid freezes below
16.7C,melting point is 16.7C.Boiling point is 118C, flash point is 40C and Explosion
limits is 4 to 16%. Acetic acid is weak acid having Pka value of 4.8.The acetic acid has a
moderate dielectric constant of 6.2 as it is protic solvent like ethanol and water. We most
commonly know that acetic acid is used in vinegar, it is used for so much more, and it is a
very important chemical used in many industrial processes. Let's take a look at the
various uses of acetic acid. A majority of the acetic acid that is produced is used to
produce vinyl acetate monomer, or VAM and other major application is production of
acetic anhydride. It is used to produce the synthetic fibers and fabrics, it is also used for
photographic film. Chemically all acetates is soluble in water except of chromium (2)
acetate It is highly corrosive with metals like iron and zinc but is is non corrosive in
presence of stainless steel. The acetic acid is very useful as industrial point of view so
the acetic acid is produced by three methods and these methods are:
1) Oxidation of acetaldehyde (old method)
2) N-butane Oxidation
3) Methanol Carbonylation
2CH3COOH + H2