The History of Acetic Acid
The History of Acetic Acid
Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic acid that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. The name derives from acetum, the Latin word for vinegar. It is also the defining ingredient of vinegar. But vinegar is not the only use of acetic acid.The global demand for acetic acid is around 6.5 million tonnes per year. Industrially, acetic acid is used in a wide range of processes. Acetic acid is produced both synthetically and by bacterial fermentation. The bacterial fermentation accounts for 10% of the world production and is mostly used for vinegar.
Traces of acetic acidbeing used in alchemy extend into the third century. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus described how acetic acid can be used to produce pigments useful in art when acted on metals. The ancient Romans used to boil vinegar in pots made from lead to make Sapa, a highly sweet syrup. Sapa was rich in lead acetate which they called sugar of Saturn, a very sweet substance. This syrup caused also a lot of lead poisoning among the Roman aristocracy.
The preparation of glacial acetic acid through dry distillation of metal acetates was already known in the Renaissance, as the 16th century German alchemist Andreas Libavius described this procedure.
Traces of acetic acidbeing used in alchemy extend into the third century. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus described how acetic acid can be used to produce pigments useful in art when acted on metals. The ancient Romans used to boil vinegar in pots made from lead to make Sapa, a highly sweet syrup. Sapa was rich in lead acetate which they called sugar of Saturn, a very sweet substance. This syrup caused also a lot of lead poisoning among the Roman aristocracy.
The preparation of glacial acetic acid through dry distillation of metal acetates was already known in the Renaissance, as the 16th century German alchemist Andreas Libavius described this procedure.