The Chemical formula of acetic acid is C2H4O2.
Characteristics of acetic acid
| Properties | Details |
| Chemical formula | C2H4O2 |
| Molecular weight | 60.05 g/mol |
| Density | 1.049 g/mL at 25°C |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water, miscible with ethanol and ether |
| Reactivity | Reacts with bases and metals, forms esters with alcohols |
| Odor | Pungent, vinegar-like odor |
| Melting point | 16.6°C |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless liquid |
| Boiling point | 118.1°C |
| Acidity | Weak acid, pH of 2.4 in a 0.1M solution |
| Common uses | Production of vinegar, food preservatives, solvents, dyes |
Reaction of acetic acid with Alkali metal
| Alkali metal | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Lithium (Li) | Li + CH3COOH → LiCH3COO + H2 (vigorous reaction) |
| Sodium (Na) | 2Na + 2CH3COOH → 2NaCH3COO + H2 (slow reaction) |
| Potassium (K) | 2K + 2CH3COOH → 2KCH3COO + H2 (very vigorous reaction) |
| Rubidium (Rb) | 2Rb + 2CH3COOH → 2RbCH3COO + H2 (very vigorous reaction) |
| Cesium (Cs) | 2Cs + 2CH3COOH → 2CsCH3COO + H2 (explosive reaction, dangerous) |
Reaction of acetic acid with Alkaline earth metal
| Alkaline earth metal | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Mg + 2CH3COOH → Mg(CH3COO)2 + H2 (slow reaction) |
| Calcium (Ca) | Ca + 2CH3COOH → Ca(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Strontium (Sr) | Sr + 2CH3COOH → Sr(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Barium (Ba) | Ba + 2CH3COOH → Ba(CH3COO)2 + H2 (vigorous reaction) |
| Radium (Ra) | Ra + 2CH3COOH → Ra(CH3COO)2 + H2 (slow reaction, radioactive) |
Reaction of acetic acid with Transition metal
| Transition metal | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Iron (Fe) | Fe + 2CH3COOH → Fe(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Copper (Cu) | Cu + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2Cu + H2 (slow reaction) |
| Silver (Ag) | 2Ag + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2Ag + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Gold (Au) | No result |
| Zinc (Zn) | Zn + 2CH3COOH → Zn(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Nickel (Ni) | Ni + 2CH3COOH → Ni(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Cobalt (Co) | Co + 2CH3COOH → Co(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Chromium (Cr) | Cr + 2CH3COOH → Cr(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Manganese (Mn) | Mn + 2CH3COOH → Mn(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Titanium (Ti) | Ti + 2CH3COOH + 6H2O → Ti(OH)4 + 2(CH3COO)2H (slow hydrolysis) |
| Vanadium (V) | V + 2CH3COOH + 6H2O → VO(OH)2(CH3COO)2 + 4H+ (slow hydrolysis) |
| Platinum (Pt) | No result |
Reaction of acetic acid with Non-transition metal
| Non-transition metal | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Aluminum (Al) | 2Al + 6CH3COOH → 2Al(CH3COO)3 + 3H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Boron (B) | B2O3 + 3CH3COOH + 6H2O → 2H3BO3 + 3(CH3COO)2H (slow hydrolysis) |
| Carbon (C) | No result |
| Silicon (Si) | Si + 4CH3COOH → Si(CH3COO)4 + 2H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Germanium (Ge) | Ge + 4CH3COOH → Ge(CH3COO)4 + 2H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Tin (Sn) | Sn + 2CH3COOH → Sn(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Lead (Pb) | Pb + 2CH3COOH → Pb(CH3COO)2 + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Hydrogen (H) | CH3COOH + H2 → CH4O2 (slow reaction, requires catalyst) |
| Helium (He) | No result |
| Neon (Ne) | No result |
| Oxygen (O) | No result |
| Nitrogen (N) | No result |
Reaction of acetic acid with Non-metal
| Non-metal | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Hydrogen | CH3COOH + H2 → CH4O2 (slow reaction, requires catalyst) |
| Carbon | C + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2C + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Sulfur | S + 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO)2S + H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Chlorine | 2HCl + CH3COOH → CH3COOHCl + H2O (slow reaction) |
| Bromine | 2HBr + CH3COOH → CH3COOHBr + H2O (slow reaction) |
| Iodine | HI + CH3COOH → CH3COOHI + H2O (slow reaction) |
| Phosphorus | 2P + 5CH3COOH + 10H2O → 2H3PO4 + 5(CH3COO)2H (slow hydrolysis) |
| Nitrogen | No result |
| Oxygen | 2CH3COOH + O2 → 2CH3COOH + 2H2O (combustion reaction, requires heat) |
Reaction of acetic acid with Metalloid
| Metalloid | Reaction with acetic acid |
| Boron | B2O3 + 3CH3COOH + 6H2O → 2H3BO3 + 3(CH3COO)2H (slow hydrolysis) |
| Silicon | Si + 4CH3COOH → Si(CH3COO)4 + 2H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Germanium | Ge + 4CH3COOH → Ge(CH3COO)4 + 2H2 (moderate reaction) |
| Arsenic | As2O3 + 6CH3COOH → 2(CH3COO)3As + 3H2O (moderate reaction) |
| Antimony | Sb2O3 + 6CH3COOH → 2(CH3COO)3Sb + 3H2O (moderate reaction) |