What is glacial ethanoic acid?

	Vocabulary
	carboxylic acid acetic acid crystallization

The ethan- stem means you have two carbons, and the -oic acid ending means that the carbon on the end is part of a carboxylic acid group, -COOH. So ethanoic acid is CH₃COOH, which is more commonly known as acetic acid.

Anhydrous (water-free) acetic acid is sometimes called glacial acetic acid because it solidifies just below room temperature, at 16.7°C. Acetic acid can be concentrated by dripping the impure compound over a "stalactite" of glacial (frozen) acetic acid. Pure acetic acid crystallizes, while impurities run off in the liquid.

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu

Copyright © 1997-2001 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to senese@antoine.frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101-hidden/organic/faq/ethanoic-acid.shtml