Acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid, is a clear colorless organic acid. Glacial acetic acid is the concentrated or pure form of acetic acid. Acids are generally diluted to reduce their corrosiveness and for ease of handling. Both acetic acid and glacial acetic have the same chemical formula CH3COOH. Glacial acetic acid will have a lower pH compared to acetic acid due to the higher concentration. In this article, we look at 15 differences between acetic acid and glacial acetic acid.
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Difference between acetic acid and glacial acetic acid
| Acetic acid | Glacial acetic acid | |
| IUPAC name | Acetic acid | Acetic acid |
| Common name | Acetic acid, vinegar | Anhydrous acetic acid, Ice vinegar, water-free acetic acid |
| Chemical formula | CH3COOH | CH3COOH |
| Appearance | Clear colorless liquid | Ice-like crystals under 16°C and is colorless liquid. |
| Odor | Strong odor of vinegar (pungent smell) | — |
| Density | 1.0446 g/cu cm at 25 °C | 1.05 gm/mL at 39 °C |
| Description | It is a synthetic carboxylic acid that contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. It cannot be frozen. | It is concentrated from the acetic acid solution. It has around 99% of acetic acid and around 1% of water and therefore is concentrated. It can form ice-like crystals when frozen. |
| Taste | Burning taste (Warning: Do not taste acids, as they can be harmful) | — |
| pH | ~2.5-~4 | ~2.5 |
| Solubility | Soluble in water | — |
| Decomposition | Irritating fumes are evolved when it is heated | Irritating fumes are evolved when it is heated |
| Drug indication | It is used as an antiseptic and to treat infections in our bodies. (Warning: Never opt for home medication) | — |
| Drug warning | Direct application in the eyes can cause corneal pacification. (Warning: Never opt for home medication) | Can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, and skin.(Warning: Never opt for home medication) |
| Pharmacology Mechanism of action | It is a synthetic carboxylic acid having antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can also inhibit carbohydrate metabolism. | — |
| Uses | It is widely used for etching metals, fabric dyeing, the production of nylon, and leather tanning. It is also used in food canning as an additive. And also used as an antiseptic in the medical field. | It is used in the production of propylene terephthalate, aniline, terephthalic acid, synthetic camphor, etc. |
| Side effect | Corneal opacification on direct application. Lots of irritation and burning. | Vapors can cause irritation in the nose. Application on the skin may cause burns. |
| Stability and reactivity | Stable under regular laboratory storage conditions. | It is corrosive and flammable. |
| Interesting facts | It is a naturally occurring substance in plants and animals. It is also found in the atmosphere, and formed in the air by the reaction of hydrocarbons with ozone. | It is manufactured in the laboratory. and is the pure form of acetic acid. |
Can we produce acetic acid from dilute glacial acetic acid?
You can dilute glacial acetic acid with water to get the acetic acid solution of your desired concentration. Always add acid to water. Suppose, if you want 5% acetic acid solution then add 5 ml glacial acetic acid to 95 ml water.
See Also
Dilute acids
Calculation of pH
15 Properties of acids
15 Properties of bases
