Acetic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH3COOH. It is a carboxylic acid consisting of a methyl group that is attached to a carboxyl functional group. The systematic IUPAC name of acetic acid is ethanoic acid. It is also present in vinegar in diluted form. The pungent smell and the sour taste is characteristic of the acetic acid present in it.
An undiluted solution of acetic acid is commonly referred to as glacial acetic acid.It has a wide range of applications as a polar, protic solvent. In the field of analytical chemistry, glacial acetic acid is widely used in order to estimate substances that are weakly alkaline.