acetic acid

Acetic acid is a colorless liquid organic compound with a distinctive sour taste and strong odor, commonly recognized as the main component of vinegar. It is a byproduct of fermentation and is produced both naturally and synthetically for various uses. In everyday life, acetic acid is found in food preservation, cooking, and even cleaning products. In chemistry, it’s important for making other chemical compounds and is classified as a weak acid, meaning it doesn’t fully dissociate in water. Its chemical formula is CH₃COOH, and it plays a significant role in many industrial and laboratory processes.