Acetic acid is an organic chemical compound best recognized for giving vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. Pure water-free acetic acid is a colourless hygroscopic liquid that freezes below 16.7°C to a colourless crystalline solid. Acetic acid is corrosive, and its vapour is irritating to eyes and nose, although it is a rather weak acid based on its ability to dissociate in aqueous solutions. Acetic acid is one of the simplest carboxylic acids. It is an important chemical reagent and industrial chemical that is used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate mainly in soft drink bottles; cellulose acetate, mainly for photographic film; and polyvinyl acetate for wood glue, as well as many synthetic fibres and fabrics. In households dilute acetic acid is often used in descaling agents. In the food industry acetic acid is used under the food additive code E260 as an acidity regulator. The global demand of acetic acid is around 6.5 million tonnes per year (Mt/a), of which approximately 1.5 Mt/a is met by recycling; the remainder is manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetic_acid

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1804: The Crown of Charlemagne was used at the coronation of Napoleon I of France at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Napoleon)

1823: U.S. President James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, a proclamation of opposition to European colonialism in the New World. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine)

1942: The Manhattan Project: Scientists led by Enrico Fermi initiated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the experimental nuclear reactor Chicago Pile-1. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project)

1971: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain merged to form the United Arab Emirates. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates)

1975: The Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist government in Vientiane, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate, and established the Lao People's Democratic Republic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"I do not believe that friendship today can flower out — can come out — of political life. I do believe that if there is something like a political life-to-be — to remain for us, in this world of technology — then it begins with friendship." -- Ivan Illich (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ivan_Illich)