Acetic Acid
the acid which imparts sourness to vinegar, vinegar being simply acetic acid diluted, tinged with color and slightly mingled with other impurities.
The formula of acetic acid is C₂H₂O(OH), or HO.CO, CH } or CH}0 = methyl-formic acid. It is formed by the acetous fermentation of alcohol. Acetic acid is a monatomic monobasic acid. Its salts are called acetates. A molecule of acetic acid can also unite with normal acetates like water of crystallization. Its principal salts are those of potassium, sodium, and ammonium, a solution of which is called spiritus mindereri. The acetates of barium and calcium are very ACETIC ETHERS soluble. Aluminum acetate is used in dyeing. Lead acetate is called sugar of lead, from its sweet taste. It dissolves in 1½ parts of cold water; it also dissolves oxide of lead, forming a basic acetate of lead. Basic cupric acetate is called verdigris. Acetic acid below 15.5° forms colorless transparent crystals (glacial acetic acid), which melt into a thin, colorless, pungent, strongly acid liquid, soluble in alcohol, ether, and water. It boils at 118°. Its vapor is inflammable.
Pyroligneous acid is impure acetic acid, formed by the destructive distillation, at Pyroligneous acid is impure acetic acid, red heat, of dry hard wood, as oak and beech.
ACETIC ETHERS [example, ethyl acetate, CHO}0] C2H5 come into general favor with cyclists for its brilliancy, safety, and the persistence of its flame in all circumstances. Recent experiments made to produce cheaper produced at a cost of from half a cent to three cents a pound, or one-fifth its original cost. This will bring acetylene gas within the reach of every one, and it will probably eventually supersede many other forms of lighting. One about 300 litres of acetylene gas. Acety- lene takes fire at 480° Cent.; at 700° it about 300 litres of acetylene gas. Acetydecomposes into carbonic acid and hydecomposes into carbonic acid and hydrogen.