Why is acetic acid called glacial acetic acid?

Why is acetic acid called glacial acetic acid?

Acetic acid, as a common chemical, is widely used in industry, food and medicine. In some cases, acetic acid is referred to as "glacial acetic acid". Why is acetic acid called glacial acetic acid? The answer to this question involves its physical properties, chemical characteristics, and historical background.

ACETIC ACID PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Acetic acid (chemical formula CHelevated COOH) is a colorless liquid with a strong sour taste and pungent odor. It has a boiling point of 118°C and a freezing point of 16.6°C, which means that acetic acid is usually a liquid at room temperature. When the temperature drops below its freezing point, acetic acid crystallizes into a solid, presenting a clear crystalline substance. This crystalline acetic acid is called "glacial acetic acid" because it exhibits an ice-like appearance at low temperatures.

DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTIC OF ACETIC ACID

The name "glacial acetic acid" does not mean that it is frozen acetic acid, but refers to its crystalline state. When the acetic acid temperature drops below freezing, acetic acid will begin to crystallize, forming a clear colorless solid. Therefore, glacial acetic acid is actually pure acetic acid. Most of the common commercial acetic acid is an aqueous solution containing about 4% to 8% water, while glacial acetic acid is a pure acetic acid with almost no water.

RELATIONSHIP OF ACETIC ACID PURITY AND ACETIC ACID

Glacial acetic acid usually refers to high-purity acetic acid, which is very different from the common acetic acid solution on the market. Commercially available ordinary acetic acid usually contains a certain proportion of moisture, so it is liquid at room temperature. The purity of glacial acetic acid is very high, almost no water, so it will crystallize at low temperature. This high-purity acetic acid is widely used in chemical synthesis, plastics, fibers and pharmaceuticals.

Why is acetic acid called glacial acetic acid?

As can be seen from the above, acetic acid will crystallize into a solid at low temperature, which makes it get the name "glacial acetic acid. This name vividly describes its crystallization characteristics when it is cooled, so it has a certain historical and physical significance. It is worth noting that glacial acetic acid is not a chemically specific acetic acid, but refers to its physical state under specific conditions-a crystalline form of pure acetic acid.

Conclusion: Glacial acetic acid and acetic acid relationship

The name "glacial acetic acid" comes from the characteristics of acetic acid crystallization at low temperature, which is also the performance of acetic acid with high purity and almost no moisture. Therefore, glacial acetic acid is actually pure acetic acid, and its crystalline nature is the origin of the name. By understanding the definition and characteristics of glacial acetic acid, we can better understand its importance in the chemical industry.