Acetic acid is a simple organic acid with a carboxylic group attached to a methyl group. It is known as ethanoic acid, ethylic acid, or glacial acetic acid. Due to the presence of the carboxylic group it is acidic in nature. It is the main constituent of vinegar. It is very sour to taste and has a pungent smell. In this article, we discuss the uses of acetic acid in industry, chemical synthesis, medicine, and household. You can read our articles on acids, bases, salts, and the uses of acids for more information.

Moving on, when acetic acid or ethanoic acid is undiluted it is termed glacial acetic acid. It is a weak acid but when it is in concentrated form, this acid is corrosive and can cause some damage to the skin.

Important and Popular Uses of Acetic Acid

There are many uses of acetic acid for sale. So, in addition to being treated just as a food preservative (vinegar), the acid is used in many areas and instances. Some top and important uses include:

  • Industrial Use
  • Medicinal Uses
  • Household
  • Food Industry

We will be discussing some of it below:

  1. Industrial Use

Acetic acid is used in many industrial processes for the production of substrates and it is often used as a chemical reagent for the production of a number of chemical compounds like acetic anhydride, ester, vinyl acetate monomer, vinegar, and many other polymeric materials. It is also used to purify organic compounds as it can be used as a solvent for recrystallization.

  1. Medical Use

Acetic acid has a lot of uses in the medical field. The most important use here is that it can be used as an antiseptic against pseudomonas, enterococci, streptococci, staphylococci, and others. It is also used in cervical cancer screening and for the treatment of infections. Further, it is used as an agent to lyse red blood cells before white blood cells are examined. Vinegar has also been said to reduce high concentrations of blood sugar.

  1. Food Industry

In the food industry, acetic acid finds its use most commonly in commercial pickling operations, and in condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. It is also used for seasoning various food items like salads etc. Additionally, vinegar can react with alkaline ingredients like baking soda and when that happens it produces a gas that helps to make baked goods become more puffy.

  1. Household Uses

Acetic acid which is a dilute solution is used extensively as vinegar. And as we are familiar with, vinegar is widely used for cleaning, laundry, cooking, and many other household uses. Farmers usually spray acetic acid on livestock silage to counter bacterial and fungal growth.

Caution:

Acetic acid is a weak acid, but it can be corrosive in its concentrated form. It is better to be safe while handling acetic acid. It is harmful to the eyes and skin. The vapors also can be quite harmful if inhaled. Since it is a colorless liquid, the concentration cannot be determined with the naked eye. It is better to use your nitrile gloves and lab coats while handling acetic acid.

Also Read: Acetic Anhydride Market Size, Growth, Scope, and Forecast 2026

Apart from these, acetic acid is used for the manufacture of inks and dyes and it is also used in making perfumes. It is also involved in the manufacturing of rubber and plastic industries.

These are some popular uses of Acetic acid. To know more about acetic acid and other chemistry topics you can keep visiting Moun Pharma or visit our social pages for interesting content and learning experience.