preview

Lab Report On The Properties Of Acetic Acid

Decent Essays

1. ACETIC ACID:
1.1 Overview
Acetic acid is an organic compound, chemically represented as CH3COOH. It is derived from the Latin word acetum, which means vinegar. It is a weak acid which is among the most commonly used reagent in the laboratory for number of purposes. After formic acid, acetic acid is the simplest carboxylic which consists of two functional groups:
• Carboxyl group group (-COOH)
• Methyl group (-CH3)

When acetic acid is not diluted or in its concentrated form it is also termed as glacial acetic acid. Vinegar used in common household practice is 3-9% acetic acid by volume in water. Being acid this compound exhibits sour taste and pungent smell.
Synonyms used for acetic acid – Ethanoic acid, glacial acetic acid, vinegar acid, alcohol of vinegar, methane carboxylic acid, and pyro ligneous acid.

1.2 Properties
1.2.1 Appearance
Acetic acid is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature. It can also be obtained in the white crystal form since pure compound is a solid below 62°F. It bears an irritating pungent odour with the threshold limit 1ppm or 2.5mg/m3. It has burning taste.

1.2.2 Physical and chemical properties

pH

:

2.4 (6 %) pH solution : 6 %
Melting point : 17 °C
Freezing point : No data available
Boiling point : 118 °C
Critical temperature : 322 °C
Critical pressure : 45300 hPa
Flash point : 40 °C
Relative evaporation rate (butyl acetate=1) : 0.97
Relative evaporation rate (ether=1) : 11

Get Access