How do you make acetic acid and its uses

How do you make acetic acid is a research assignment question for chemistry teachers. Acetic acid is a low molecular weight carboxylic acid with the chemical formula CH₃COOH. Acetic acid has a sour taste and arises naturally from fermentation of sugars by various microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. The most abundant source of acetic acid is vinegar, but it can also be made from ethanol or ethylene oxide in industrial quantities.

A general method for making acetic acid is to mix equal parts of concentrated sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, usually with about 10% water added to dilute them enough to safely handle them without fume hood protection since they are both highly toxic if inhaled or ingested. It is then dissolved in water, and the resulting solution is added to a concentrated sulfuric or hydrochloric acid (usually about 99%) solution. This will produce enough acetic acid for industrial use. The chemical equation for CH₃COOH can be represented by interaction between CH₃COOH

CH₃COO⁺ + H⁺ ⇌ CH₃COOOH CH₃COO^- + H₂O ⇌H₂CO

The advantage to this method is that no chemical reaction occurs in the presence of water. The disadvantage of this method is that it can produce some dimethyl sulfide gas which can irritate the nose and throat. This is one of the method on how do you make acetic acid.

Acetic anhydride is synthesized industrially by the reaction of acetaldehyde with acetic acid. Acetaldehyde reacts with hydrochloric acid in the presence of palladium catalyst to give acetic acid, carbon monoxide and water:

CH₃CHO + HCl → CH₃COOH + COC + H₂O

Palladium on charcoal catalyzes the dehydration of aldehyde to give acids and water. The aldehyde may be produced from a variety of organic chemicals, including acetone, propanal, butanal, benzaldehyde and others by this method.

Uses of acetic acid

1. it is a raw material for the production of many chemical compounds. For example, acetic acid is used as an intermediate in making phosphoric acid, glycerol, and a mixture of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol called poly-ethylene glycol in the production of polyethylene and polypropylene plastics. In addition, acetic acid is used to make synthetic rubbers such as neoprene rubber.

2. Acetic acid is a common solvent, especially for organic compounds. It has surfactant properties and is used in the laboratory as an emulsifier, and in industry to dissolve fats in oils before they are extracted.

3. Acetic acid is a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of many chlorinated pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid which were banned by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on November 12, 2001. Their production was banned under the Rotterdam Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) ratified by the United States government on December 10, 2002.

4. Acetic acid is also used to make cellulose acetate via the Bayer process. Cellulose acetate is used in making photographic film and x-ray film.

5. Acetic acid can be used as a fuel source during some chemical reactions, mainly those involving esters, amides and anhydrides. When acetic acid is not available the ester, amide or anhydride reacts with steam (boiling water). This reaction produces chemicals that can be burned instead of the acetic acid product itself. A significant drawback of this method is production of significant amounts of carbon dioxide, which has a negative impact on air quality.

6. Acetic acid is also used to dry bacteria, making them more resistant to disinfecting agents which is important in many biological laboratories. Acetic acid is also dehydrating, causing it to have a more acidic pH than water, which can cause tissue damage. While the amount of acetic acid needed to kill bacteria varies with temperature and concentration, , a lethal concentration is around 0.6% at 25℃ (77℉), while the optimal concentration has been reported as 1% or greater at this temperature. It has also been suggested that concentrations of 1% or higher may be required at lower temperatures (20 ℃), although this has not been proven experimentally.

In conclusion, how do you make acetic acid has a multitude of uses in many different industries and applications. Because of all of these applications, it is no wonder why acetic acid is so important to have on hand at all times.