Acetic acid

From Citizendium
Revision as of 20:26, 20 August 2008 by imported>Anthony.Sebastian (→‎Phyical properties: add molecular weight)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Acetic acid, formula CH3CO2H, is the second smallest carboxylic acid and is larger than only formic acid, HCO2H. Vinegar's tart taste and distinctive odor is due to the presence of acetic acid. It is a common reagent in organic synthesis.

Phyical properties

Molecular weight: 60.05 mg/mol. cetic acid has a pKa value of 4.76, which makes it a fairly weak acid, as most organic acids are. In dilute solutions, acetic acid dissociates into the acetate ion and the hydronium ion. The degree is dissociation is determined by the pH of the solution. Acetic acid is generally purchased as Glacial acetic acid