- Registry number
- CHEM-010
- Preferred designation
- Acetic acid
- Common names
- Ethanoic acid · vinegar acid
- Chemical formula
- CH₃COOH
- CAS registry
- 64-19-7
- PubChem CID
- 176
- Formula mass
- 60.05 g/mol
- Class
- Organic carboxylic acid
Description & appearance
Colorless liquid with a characteristic sharp vinegar odor.
Occurrence & historical provenance
A product of biological fermentation processes; dilute acetic acid is a defining constituent of vinegar.
Established uses
Food formulations, chemical manufacturing, polymer precursors, and analytical chemistry.
Hazards & handling context
Concentrated acetic acid is corrosive and can be flammable; familiar vinegar is far more dilute. Concentration changes the hazards materially.
Important distinctions
'Vinegar' is a formulation, not a synonym for pure or glacial acetic acid.
Source ledger
The following reference records were consulted for chemical identity and general descriptive claims. Industrial grades, formulations, and mixtures may have different hazard profiles.
Catalogued 2026-11-11 · PyreArms 0.2.0. This is an authored reference entry, not a certificate of laboratory analysis.