What Are Glacial Acetic Acids?
Glacial acetic acid is highly concentrated 99.5 per cent pure acetic acid. The term “glacial” is used for this acid because it has a tendency to solidify at 17° C to a crystalline shaped mass resembling ice. These acids are mainly used in vinegar. The sour taste and the pungent odour of the vinegar can be attributed to the usage of acetic acids. Acetic acid can be corrosive and the vapours can be quite irksome to the nose and eyes. Acetic acids come into play as food preservatives and condiments also. Glacial acetic acids are colourless and hygroscopic in nature. Glacial acetic has been used successfully as a solvent to purify organic compounds. In analytical chemistry, one can find the usage of glacial acetic acid to determine the strength of weak alkaline substances. Glacial acetic acid is a weaker base than water. Acetic acid can be used as a spray-on preservative to ward off fungal and bacterial growth.
