Acetic acid, also known as glacial acetic acid and glacial acetic acid, with chemical formula of CH3COOH, is an organic monobasic acid and short-chain saturated fatty acid, which is the source of sour taste and pungent smell in vinegar. Pure anhydrous acetic acid (glacial acetic acid) is a colorless hygroscopic solid with a freezing point of 16.7℃(62℉) and a colorless crystal after solidification. Although acetic acid is a weak acid, it is corrosive, its vapor is irritating to eyes and nose, and it smells pungent and sour.

Acetic acid is a simple carboxylic acid, which consists of a methyl group and a carboxyl group. It is an important chemical reagent. In the chemical industry, it is used to make polyethylene terephthalate, which is the main part of beverage bottles. Acetic acid is also used to make cellulose acetate for films and polyvinyl acetate for wood adhesives, as well as many synthetic fibers and fabrics. In the family, dilute acetic acid solution is often used as a scale remover. In the food industry, acetic acid is an acidity regulator specified in the food additive list E260.

The world's annual demand for acetic acid is about 6.5 million tons. About 6.5438+0.5 million tons are recycled, and the remaining 5 million tons are made directly from petrochemical raw materials or biological fermentation.