Acetic acid, CH3COOH, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic acid which gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It is a weak acid, in that it is only partially dissociated acid in aqueous solution.
 
Acetic acid, CH3COOH, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic acid which gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It is a weak acid, in that it is only partially dissociated acid in aqueous solution. Pure, water-free acetic acid (glacial acetic acid) is a colourless liquid that absorbs water from the environment (hygroscopy), and freezes at 16.5 °C (62 °F) to a colourless crystalline solid. The pure acid, and concentrated solutions, are dangerously corrosive.
 
Acetic acid is one of the simplest carboxylic acids. It is an important chemical reagent and industrial chemical, used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate mainly used in soft drink bottles;cellulose acetate, mainly for photographic film; and polyvinyl acetate for wood glue, as well as synthetic fibres and fabrics. In households, diluted acetic acid is often used in descaling agents. In thefood industry acetic acid is used under the food additive code E260 as an acidity regulator.
 
USES OF ACETIC ACID 
•               dilute ethanoic acid is used as a preservative in the preparation of pickles.
•               it is used for making cellulose acetate which is an important artificial fibre.
•               it is used in the manufacture of acetone and esters used in perfumes.
•               it is used in the preparation of dyes.
•               it is used to coaggulate rubber from latex.
•               it is used for making white lead which is used as a white paint.
 
it is used as a chemical reagent in chemistry lab.