Acetic Acid Molecule in 3D: CH₃COOH Structure and Facts
Acetic acid is the acid that gives vinegar its sour taste and sharp smell. It has a methyl group joined to a COOH acid group. In Molecule Studio you can spin the acetic acid molecule, zoom in on each atom and measure its bonds.
Explore in 3DAcetic Acid quick facts
| Chemical formula | CH₃COOH |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 60.05 g/mol |
| Atoms in one molecule | 8 |
| Shape | Flat around the acid group |
| Group | Acids |
What is acetic acid used for?
- Vinegar for food
- Making plastics and fibres
- Cleaning
Interesting facts about acetic acid
- Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid in water.
- It is a weak acid.
- Bacteria make it from ethanol.
- Pure acetic acid freezes at about 17 °C, so it is called glacial.
What you can do in 3D
Turn the molecule to see it from every side, switch between ball and stick, space filling and wire views, and tap atoms to measure bond lengths and angles.
More acids molecules
Acetic Acid questions
What is the formula of acetic acid?
CH3COOH, also written C2H4O2.
Is acetic acid in vinegar?
Yes. Vinegar is mostly water with a few percent of acetic acid.
Is acetic acid strong or weak?
Weak. Only a small fraction of it splits up in water.
Why is it called glacial acetic acid?
Pure acetic acid freezes at about 17 °C into ice-like crystals.
Molecule Studio is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. In the tool, molecules load from the built-in library or from PubChem.