What is acetic acid?
Acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid, ethylic acid, vinegar acid, and methane carboxylic acid. Acetic acid is a byproduct of fermentation, and gives vinegar its characteristic odor. Vinegar is about 4-6% acetic acid in water. More concentrated solutions can be found in laboratory use, and pure acetic acid containing only traces of water is known as glacial acetic acid. Dilute solutions like vinegar can contact skin with no harm, but more concentrated solutions will burn the skin. Glacial acetic acid can cause skin burns and permanent eye damage, and will corrode metal.
What is acetic acid used for?
Acetic acid is used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride, cellulose acetate, vinyl acetate monomer, acetic esters, chloracetic acid, plastics, dyes, insecticides, photographic chemicals, and rubber. Other commercial uses include the manufacture of vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, and organic chemicals, and as a food additive (acidulant). It is also used in various textile printing processes.
What are natural sources of acetic acid?
Acetates (salts of acetic acid) are common constituents of animal and plant tissues and are formed during the metabolism of food substances. Acetate is readily metabolized by most tissues and may give rise to the production of ketones as intermediates. Acetate is used by the body as a building block to make phospholipids, neutral lipids, steroids, sterols, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in a variety of human and animal tissue preparations.
What are the health effects of acetic acid exposure?
The low concentrations most people encounter in vinegar and other foods are harmless. At higher concentrations that could be encountered in a laboratory or factory, acetic acid is a strong eye, skin, and mucous membrane irritant. Prolonged skin contact with concentrated acetic acid may result in tissue destruction. Inhalation exposure to high concentrations of acetic acid vapors causes irritation of eyes, nose, and throat. People with high occupational exposure can develop conjunctivitis, bronchitis and pharyngitis, and erosion of exposed teeth (incisors and canines).
Updated 2023
FAQs
Based upon the outcome of the ERC Approach, acetic acid is considered unlikely to cause ecological harm.
Is acetic acid hazardous to the environment? ›
Environmental effects depend on the concentration and duration of exposure to acetic acid. In high concentrations it can be harmful to plants, animals and aquatic life.
What is the problem with acetic acid? ›
The low concentrations most people encounter in vinegar and other foods are harmless. At higher concentrations that could be encountered in a laboratory or factory, acetic acid is a strong eye, skin, and mucous membrane irritant. Prolonged skin contact with concentrated acetic acid may result in tissue destruction.
What is the main safety risk associated with the use of acetic acid? ›
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on eyes and/or airways have become manifest. A harmful contamination of the air can be reached rather quickly on evaporation of this substance at 20°C.
Is acetate good for the environment? ›
Unlike most typical synthetic plastics, those made with cellulose acetate break down after use into cellulose and acetic acid by the action of water in the natural environment. These materials eventually return to the environment with no adverse impact.
Why is acetic acid healthy? ›
Sustaining high levels of inflammation long-term, however, can have a detrimental effect on health, with studies showing that inflammation could contribute to the development of chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer. Acetic acid is thought to reduce inflammation to help protect against disease.
Is acetic acid toxic to plants? ›
Acetic acid works by causing plant desiccation, which means that it causes plants to “dry out”. It does this by breaking down plant cell walls and plant fluids then “leak” out. Shortly after an appli- cation of acetic acid susceptible weeds become discolored and turn brown.
Is acetic acid harmful to plants? ›
Vinegar is nonselective herbicide that can rupture plant cells therefore damaging plant material. Desirable plants need to be protected from potential spray drift. Acetic acid destroys cell membranes that can result in the desiccation of the plant tissue and eventual death of the plant.
What are the environmental hazards of vinegar? ›
Air pollution: Burning petrochemicals during production can contribute to smog and air pollution, emitting potential cancer-causing agents, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Soil pollution: Vinegar can upset the soil's effectiveness by lowering its pH.
What is the natural source of acetic acid? ›
Natural sources of acetic acid include apples, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, and oranges. Aside from that, acetic acid can be found in vinegar. Vinegar and certain rotting fruits and vegetables are natural sources of acetic acid. So we can say that the main natural source of Acetic acid is Vinegar.
Acetic acid treatment denatures DNA while preserving chromosomal morphology during the in situ hybridization procedure.
How do you dispose of acetic acid waste? ›
Burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber but exert extra care in igniting as this material is highly flammable. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
How do you dispose of acetic acid at home? ›
Unless you have large quantities, just dilute it or neutralize it and pour down/into the sink, NOT directly down/into the drain. Large amounts need to be addressed by a waste company.
What is the permitted daily exposure of acetic acid? ›
The PDE for acetic acid is 3200 mg/day.
Is acetic acid good for soil? ›
Acetic acid has no lasting effect in increasing soil acidity, and its effect on fungi in the soil is not exerted through the factor of soil reaction.
Is acetic acid good for plants? ›
Acetic acid ruptures plant cells, causing fluids to leak and plant tissues to dry out. It does not translocate or move within the plant to the roots or other plant parts. Good coverage of leaves and growing points at the top of the plant is necessary.
Is acetic acid safe for plants? ›
Acetic acid works by causing plant desiccation, which means that it causes plants to “dry out”. It does this by breaking down plant cell walls and plant fluids then “leak” out. Shortly after an appli- cation of acetic acid susceptible weeds become discolored and turn brown.
Does acetic acid help plants grow? ›
The team tested this hypothesis by growing normal plants in drought conditions and treatment with acetic acid, other organic acids, or water. They found that after 14 days over 70% of the plants treated with acetic acid had survived, while virtually all other plants had died.
