Most important carboxylic acid (CH 3 COOH).
Pure ("glacial") acetic acid is a clear, syrupy, corrosive liquid that mixes readily with water. Vinegar is its dilute solution, from fermentation and oxidation (see oxidation-reduction ) of natural products. Its salts and esters are acetates . It occurs naturally as a metabolic intermediate in body fluids and plant juices. Industrial production is either synthetic, from acetylene , or biological, from ethanol . Industrial chemicals made from it are used in printing and as plastics, photographic films, textiles, and solvents.