Acetic acid: the story on HearLore

Acetic acid

The Latin word for vinegar, acetum, means to sour and describes the bitter taste of fermented fruits. This root gives us the common name acetic acid. The systematic IUPAC name ethanoic acid follows substitutive nomenclature rules established in 2004. Glacial acetic acid refers to water-free anhydrous forms that form ice-like crystals below room temperature. A symbol AcOH represents the molecule where Ac stands for the pseudoelement acetyl group. The conjugate base acetate appears as CH3COO minus when a hydrogen ion leaves the acid. Context prevents confusion between this Ac symbol and actinium. Chemists often write the structure as CH3COOH or HC2H3O2 to better reflect its molecular arrangement.

Historical Production Methods

Vinegar has been used for at least 10,000 years through natural exposure of beer and wine to air. Greek philosopher Theophrastus described how vinegar acted on metals to produce pigments like white lead by the third century BC. Ancient Romans boiled soured wine in lead pots to create sapa syrup rich in lead acetate. German alchemist Andreas Libavius produced acetone from dry distillation of lead acetate in the 16th century. Hermann Kolbe synthesized acetic acid from inorganic compounds for the first time in 1845. By 1910 Germany produced 10,000 tons of glacial acetic acid derived from wood distillation. Henri Dreyfus developed a methanol carbonylation pilot plant at British Celanese as early as 1925. BASF commercialized the first cobalt-catalyzed process in 1963 requiring pressures over 200 atmospheres. Monsanto built the first rhodium-based plant using cis-iodide catalysts in 1970. BP Chemicals introduced the iridium-catalyzed Cativa process in the late 1990s.

What is the origin of the name acetic acid?

The Latin word acetum means to sour and describes the bitter taste of fermented fruits. This root gives us the common name acetic acid.

When did Hermann Kolbe first synthesize acetic acid from inorganic compounds?

Hermann Kolbe synthesized acetic acid from inorganic compounds for the first time in 1845. This achievement marked a significant milestone in chemical history before industrial production methods emerged.

Where was interstellar acetic acid detected within Sagittarius B2 North molecular cloud?

Astronomers detected interstellar acetic acid within the Sagittarius B2 North molecular cloud. This discovery marked the first molecule found in space using solely radio interferometers.

How much global demand existed for acetic acid as of 2023?

The global demand reached 17.88 million metric tonnes per year as of 2023. Total worldwide production increased from 10.7 million tonnes in 2010 to current figures.

At what concentration does acetic acid become flammable risk forming explosive mixtures with air?

Acetic acid becomes flammable risk above certain temperatures forming explosive mixtures with air limits between 5.4 and 16 percent concentration. Vapour concentrations of one thousand parts per million cause upper respiratory tract irritation that cannot be tolerated.

Acetic acid

Historical Production Methods

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Common questions

What is the origin of the name acetic acid?

When did Hermann Kolbe first synthesize acetic acid from inorganic compounds?

Where was interstellar acetic acid detected within Sagittarius B2 North molecular cloud?

How much global demand existed for acetic acid as of 2023?

At what concentration does acetic acid become flammable risk forming explosive mixtures with air?

Interstellar Detection

Industrial Synthesis Pathways

Chemical Properties And Structure

Global Economic Demand

Health Hazards And Safety