What Acid Is in Vinegar?

Vinegar Chemical Composition

Acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid.
=. Cacycle, Wikipedia Commons
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on May 06, 2019

What acid is in vinegar? Vinegar contains 5-10% acetic acid, one of the weak acids. Acetic acid is produced by the fermentation process used to make vinegar. Most of the remainder of the liquid is water. Vinegar may also contain sweeteners or flavorings added after the fermentation process.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Acid Is in Vinegar?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-acid-is-in-vinegar-603637. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). What Acid Is in Vinegar? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-acid-is-in-vinegar-603637 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Acid Is in Vinegar?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-acid-is-in-vinegar-603637 (accessed June 10, 2023).
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