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
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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)
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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)