How many grams of Glacial Acetic Acid (99.9% W/V) must be added to 1 gal Purified Water to prepare an irrigation solution containing 0.25% W/V Acetic Acid

How many grams of Glacial Acetic Acid (99.9% W/V) must be added to 1 gal Purified Water to prepare an irrigation solution containing 0.25% W/V Acetic Acid?

a- 1.2g
b- 9.5g***
c- 12g
d- 20g
e- 95g.


Glacial acetic acid is considered to be almost 99.5% pure and more, water being the main impurity. Other possible impurities depend on the process used to make it. Small amounts of acetaldehyde, acetic anhydride, formic acid, diacetyl, methyl acetate, ethyl acetoacetate, iron, mercury, iodine, bromine and chlorides.

Acetic acid is available in various concentrations. The properties of these solutions vary according to their concentration. Check one of the following cards:

- Acetic acid in aqueous solution at more than 80%.
- Acetic acid in aqueous solution with more than 10 and less than 80%.
- Acetic acid in aqueous solution from 3 to 10%.

Acetic acid is a raw material for the manufacture of several products including:

solvents such as ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate or butyl acetate
- plastics such as cellulose acetate and rayon
- raw materials for the manufacture of polymers, including vinyl acetate, for the manufacture of latex emulsions and terephthalic acid, for the production of polyethylene terephthalate resin
- other products such as acetic anhydride, chloroacetic acid and organic and inorganic acetates
- pharmaceutical products, such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), synthetic caffeine, certain vitamins and hormones.

In pure form or as solutions at different concentrations, it is used in various industrial sectors, such as:

- the textile industry, for dyeing and printing operations.
- the tannery, in the solutions of pre-treatment of the skins (piclage).
- photography, in development processes.
- printing, fixing solutions and cleaning solutions.
- electronics, as a cleaning solution during the manufacture of semiconductors.
- the food industry as an ingredient and a food preservative.
- in the medical and veterinary sectors, as a bactericidal or bacteriostatic solution.
- perfumery, as an ingredient or raw material.

On the other hand, acetic acid is also present in the environment. Many plants contain it and can release it in the form of volatile emission. It is found in many foods as an added ingredient or as a natural constituent. Thermal degradation of wood in product. Human activity can also be a source of acetic acid emissions into the atmosphere, including vehicle exhaust and the burning of plants, plastics or other wastes.

What is acetic acid

Acetic acid or ethanoic acid is a weak organic acid. It is the main component of vinegar and is responsible for its distinctive flavor and acidity. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. It boils at 117.9 degrees Celsius. It mixes with water in any proportion and releases heat.

Uses of acetic acid

Acetic acid is used at home as follows:

Prepare foods such as pickles and salads.
Control of Salmonella contamination in meat and poultry products by washing them with acetic acid solutions.
House cleaning, such as sterilizing food preparation tools, is a natural antiseptic, in addition to cleaning windows, coffee makers, dishwashers, and cleaning tiles.
Save some foods as a natural preservative as well.
Kill weeds in gardens.

Acetic acid contributes to many health benefits due to its powerful medicinal properties. Here are some of its uses:

Treating some diseases such as ear infection, fungal infections, and it removes warts and lice.
Fighting bacteria, as it kills many strains of bacteria, and is also able to prevent the growth of bacteria responsible for causing tuberculosis and leprosy.


Reducing inflammation. Acetic acid reduces markers of inflammation by decreasing the immune response by modulating the activity of a specific immune protein.
Promote weight loss by helping to slow stomach emptying and promoting a feeling of fullness for longer.


Reducing blood sugar levels, also due to its contribution to slowing stomach emptying, and reducing the activity of many enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and thus it reduces the absorption of carbohydrates and sugar in the small intestine.


Controlling blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease. Its antihypertensive properties work by reducing levels of the enzyme renin, which is secreted by the kidneys to control blood pressure. [1] In addition to its health benefits, it is used in the manufacture of perfumes, oral hygiene products, skin care products, inks, and dyes. It is also used, at high concentrations of up to 99.5% (glacial acetic acid), to dissolve oils, resins, and rubber. It is used in different concentrations in the manufacture of Plastics, pesticides, chemicals such as acetate and cellulose, photographic chemicals, and pharmaceutical preparations.

Acetic acid side effects

Is acetic acid harmful? The pH of acetic acid is relatively low, it is equal to 2.4, and although it is considered a weak acid, it causes severe corrosion, and it can cause burning and irritation of the skin when used in high concentrations, so it is always recommended to use acetic acid diluted with water, for example it can be diluted using a cup One of water for every 1-2 tablespoons of acid, as there are several side effects of acetic acid when exposed to it in high concentrations without diluting it, and these effects include the following:

  • Skin irritation and erosion.
  • Tooth erosion.
  • Throat burning.
  • heartburn
  • Indigestion.
  • Exposure to acetic acid and its effect on health

It is not possible to be exposed to acetic acid in the natural environment, but the person who deals with it directly in the fields of industry, for example, can be exposed to it, as it can reach the respiratory system by inhalation, or it may even be in contact with it through the skin.

The amount of damage from exposure to any burning chemical such as acetic acid depends on several factors, such as:

  • The amount of the substance that was exposed.
  • exposure method.
  • exposure period.
  • The nature of the chemical.
Exposure to concentrated acetic acid solutions greater than 25% can cause some harm. When inhaling its vapors at a concentration of 10 parts per million, it can cause the following:

  • Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
  • Lung irritation.
  • Cough.
  • hard breathing.
  • fever.
  • Headache.
  • fast heartbeat
  • Accumulation of fluid in the lungs in some serious cases.
If acetic acid is taken orally in high concentrations, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Burning of the mouth and throat.
  • Breathing difficulty.
  • difficulty swallowing
  • stomach pain.
  • Vomiting that may be bloody.
If acetic acid is exposed through the skin, the following symptoms occur:

  • skin burns
  • Sores.
  • skin infections
  • Exposure to acetic acid
The fetus is not affected by any side effects if the mother is exposed to acetic acid in its diluted natural concentrations by eating it with food, based on the fact that exposure to acetic acid in high concentrations affects health through contact only, and because the absorption of acids from the stomach and intestines is low in pregnant women. The direct exposure of a pregnant woman to high concentrations of acetic acid will not affect the fetus.

Exposure of children to acetic acid

The side effects that occur due to exposure to high concentrations of acetic acid in children do not differ from those in adults, as if a child comes into contact with concentrated acetic acid or takes it orally, he will have the same previous complications that occur in adults, and the complications will never be more severe.

First aid when exposed to acetic acid

When exposed to acetic acid through contact with high concentrations, the following steps are recommended:

Get away from the source of acetic acid immediately.
Remove acid-exposed clothing.
Wash the affected area with running water for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
See a doctor.
In the event that concentrated acetic acid touches the eyes, it is recommended to remove contact lenses immediately, if any, and then wash the eyes well with water for 10 to 15 minutes, and see a doctor.

How is acetic acid prepared?

Acetic acid is prepared by producing acetic aldehyde from acetylene and its oxidation to acetic acid, or from wood distillers containing pyruliginose acid, which is a clear, colorless, pungent liquid that is miscible with water, alcohol, glycerin, and ether, which constitutes 3% to 5% of vinegar. .

How is acetic acid prepared commercially?

Acetic acid is produced commercially by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, or it can be obtained from ethyl alcohol by many aerobic bacteria.

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