Acetic acid

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/acetic-acid

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the systematic name?Ethanoic acid
2. What is the chemical formula?CH₃COOH
3. What is acetic acid and why does it taste sour?Acetic acid is a weak organic acid that has a carboxyl group attached to a methyl group. Its acidity gives it a sour taste, which is why vinegar feels sharp on the tongue.
4. How is vinegar made from acetic acid?Tiny bacteria called Acetobacter turn alcohol into acetic acid during fermentation. This natural process is what creates the sour flavor of vinegar.

Carboxylic Acid: An organic acid characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH).
Anhydrous: Containing no water.
Monomer: A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.
Citric Acid Cycle: A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy.