Acetic acid is a clear, colorless liquid with the chemical formula C₂H₄O₂. It has a melting point of 62.06°F (16.7°C) and boils at 244.4°F (118°C). In high concentrations, it is a corrosive organic acid that has a pungent odor and can cause severe burns on skin.

Acetic acid has been known to humans for centuries. It is most likely that it was discovered accidently during the wine making process. When the process of fermenting fruit juices is allowed to go on too long, the wine spontaneously forms vinegar, a dilute form of acetic acid. Consequently, the name acetic acid is derived from the Latin word acetum which means vinegar.

While vinegar was known for centuries the corrosive component was not isolated immediately. The first known attempt to isolate the acid was done during the 700s. At this time, the Arab...