Description

Acetic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH₃COOH. It is a carboxylic acid consisting of a methyl group that is attached to a carboxyl functional group. The systematic IUPAC name of acetic acid is ethanoic acid and its chemical formula can also be written as C₂H₄O_2. Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water and contains between 5% to 20% ethanoic acid by volume. The pungent smell and the sour taste is characteristic of the acetic acid present in it.

Uses of Acetic Acid

Ethanoic acid is a very important organic compound in the day-to-day lives of humans. Some important uses of acetic acid are listed below.

• Acetic acid is used as an antiseptic due to its antibacterial qualities
• The manufacture of rayon fibre involves the use of ethanoic acid.
• Medically, acetic acid has been employed to treat cancer by its direct injection into the tumour.
• Being the major constituent of vinegar, it finds use in the pickling of many vegetables.
• The manufacture of rubber involves the use of ethanoic acid. It is also used in the manufacture of various perfumes.
• It is widely used in the production of VAM (vinyl acetate monomer).
• When two molecules of acetic acid undergo a condensation reaction together, the product formed is acetic anhydride.