acetic acid

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, pungent, water-miscible liquid, C 2 H 4 O 2 , the essential constituent of vinegar, produced by oxidation of acetaldehyde, bacterial action on ethyl alcohol, the reaction of methyl alcohol with carbon monoxide, and other processes: used chiefly in the manufacture of acetate fibers and in the production of numerous esters that are solvents and flavoring agents.

acetic acid

noun

1. See vinegar, glacial acetic acid
   a colourless pungent liquid, miscible with water, widely used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride, vinyl acetate, plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, etc. Formula: CH 3 COOH Systematic nameethanoic acid See also glacial acetic acid vinegar

acetic acid

1. A clear, colorless organic acid having a distinctive pungent odor. It is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, acetate fibers, pharmaceuticals, and photographic chemicals. Acetic acid is the chief acid of vinegar. Chemical formula: C 2 H 4 O 2 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of acetic acid¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

The production of wine vinegars begins with the typical wine fermentation process, which is then taken a step further with the addition of acetic acid bacteria.

From Popular-Science

Despite the advances of modern chemistry, the vinegar industry has yet to encounter a promising challenger to the tried-and-true natural machinery of acetic acid bacteria.

From Popular-Science

The acetic acid bacteria were introduced to the mixture from the air, from the raw material mixture, or were simply left over from the previous batch.

From Popular-Science

The aptly named acetic acid bacteria are the variety of microbes solely responsible for the production of the acid that characterizes vinegar.

From Popular-Science

Like all of the tiny interactions happening in a single cell at any given time, the conversion performed by acetic acid bacteria requires very specific operating conditions to most efficiently churn out vinegar.

From Popular-Science

When treated with hydrochloric or acetic acid they slowly dissolve and rhombic crystals of uric acid appear.

From Project Gutenberg

Crystals of calcium oxalate are insoluble in acetic acid or caustic soda.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon addition of acetic acid they dissolve, and rhombic plates of uric acid appear.

From Project Gutenberg

Let dry, apply a cover-glass, and run glacial acetic acid underneath it.

From Project Gutenberg

It dissolves in dilute potash, and on the addition of acetic acid is deposited in a pure state.

From Project Gutenberg