Question

Name the acid present in vinegar.

Answer 1

- Hint: Vinegar is made up of an organic carboxylic acid which has two carbon atoms in the main chain.

Complete step-by-step solution -

Pure vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water. The vinegar we use in households may contain some traces of other chemicals which includes chemical flavours. The acetic acid content in vinegar is typically 5 – 8 % by volume. There are 3 main uses of vinegar – flavouring of food, pickling, or as an acidic cooking ingredient.

Additional Information:
The chemical formula of acetic acid is ${ CH }_{ 3 }COOH$. Its chemical name is ethanoic acid and it has two carbon atoms in its main chain. It has a very pungent smell and a distinctive sour taste. It is a weak acid as it partially dissociates in water. Acetic acid dissociates in water to form two ions - ${ CH }_{ 3 }CO{ O }^{ - }$ and ${ H }^{ + }$. The reaction for this dissociation is given below.
${ CH }_{ 3 }CO{ O }{ H }_{ \left( aq \right) }\rightleftharpoons { CH }_{ 3 }CO{ O }_{ \left( aq \right) }^{ - }+{ H }_{ \left( aq \right) }^{ + }$
Liquid acetic acid is a polar solvent. It is also a protic solvent as it has a hydrogen atom attached to an oxygen atom. It is hydrophilic and it can dissolve polar compounds such as sugars and inorganic salts as well as non-polar compounds such as oils.
Apart from its use in vinegar, it is also used in the medical field as it is used to inject into the tumour to treat cancer.

Note: Vinegar is mildly acidic as it contains only 5 – 8 % of a weak acid. It is edible and doesn’t have any harmful effects on our bodies.