Acetic acid

Synonyms

Acetasol; Acetic acid; Acetic acid (natural); Acetic acid, glacial; Aci-Jel; Acide acetique [French]; Acido acetico [Italian]; Azijnzuur [Dutch]; Essigsaeure [German]; Ethanoic acid; Ethanoic acid monomer; Ethylic acid; Glacial acetic acid; Kyselina octova [Czech]; Methanecarboxylic acid; Octowy kwas [Polish]; Pyroligneous acid; Vinegar acid; [ChemIDplus] UN2789 UN2790

Category

Organic Acids

Description

Colorless liquid or crystals with a sour, vinegar-like odor; Note: Pure compound is a solid below 62 degrees F. Often used in an aqueous solution; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used to manufacture acetic anhydride and other organic chemicals used in the plastic, pharmaceutical, dye, insecticide, textile, rubber, and photographic industries; [ACGIH] Used in photography (stop bath); [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html] Used as a wet etchant in semiconductor manufacturing at standard concentrations of 36% or 99.5%; [CSH, p. 46] Used in the bating and tanning stages of leather production; [PMID 21938525]

Comments

Liquid causes second degree burns after contact for a few minutes; [CHRIS] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Glacial refers to "a number of acids, e.g., acetic and phosphoric, which have a freezing point slightly below room temperature when in a highly pure state. For example, glacial acetic acid is 99.8% pure and crystallizes at 16.6 C." [Hawley] Household vinegar is usually a 5% solution. Use skin protection if >10% solution of acetic acid. The vapor can cause lacrimation. [HSDB] A case of RADS and a case of asthma caused by glacial acetic acid have been reported in the medical literature. [Rajan, 1989; Kivity, 1994] Pulmonary edema may result from inhalation of high concentrations. [NJ-HSFS]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

10 ppm

15 ppm

10 ppm

10 ppm

50 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: Marked irritation of the eyes, nose, and upper respiratory tract which could not be tolerated for more than 3 minutes was noted at 816 to 1,226 ppm [von Oettingen 1960]. It has been reported that 50 ppm or more is intolerable to most persons due to intense lacrimation and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat [AIHA]. It has also been stated that repeated exposures to high concentrations may produce respiratory tract irritation with pharyngeal edema and chronic bronchitis [AIHA 1972].

15.7 mm Hg

0.03 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.15 ppm

163 ppm

LC50 (mice) = 5,620 ppm/1 hr

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.074 ppm); The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "acetic acid, glacial." Flash point = 39 deg C; VP from HSDB;

Reference Link #2

high ambient temp required

5 ppm

35 ppm

250 ppm

Yes

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asthma, occupational

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Burning Natural Polymers
• Burning Synthetic Polymers
• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Photographic Processing
• Semiconductor Manufacturing
• Textiles (Fiber & Fabric Manufacturing)
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Applying metallic patinas
• Burning biomass fuel for cooking and heating
• Sculpturing plastics
• Smoking cigarettes
• Textile arts