Acetic acid (glacial acetic acid)

Glacial acetic acid is a transparent, colorless liquid with a strong vinegar odor, a flash point of 104°F, and is corrosive to metals and tissues. Acetic acid is a synthetic carboxylic acid with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Although its mechanism of action is not fully understood, undissociated acetic acid enhances lipid solubility, thereby increasing the accumulation of fatty acids in cell membranes or other cell wall structures. As a weak acid, acetic acid can inhibit carbohydrate metabolism, leading to subsequent organism death. It is also used in the manufacture of other chemicals, as a food additive, as a water treatment agent, and in petroleum production.