Acetic acid new name

Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula CH3COOH. It is a colorless liquid with a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell. It is commonly used as a food additive, a solvent, and a cleaning agent.

In 2019, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially approved a new name for acetic acid: ethanoic acid. This name is derived from the IUPAC rules for naming organic compounds, which recommend using the prefix "ethano-" to indicate a molecule with a carbon chain of three atoms.

The new name, ethanoic acid, is intended to be more descriptive and consistent with the IUPAC rules for naming organic compounds. However, it is worth noting that the name "acetic acid" is still widely used and accepted in many industries and scientific communities.

Here are some examples of how the new name might be used:

• In chemical formulas: CH3COOH (acetic acid) = C2H4O2 (ethanoic acid)
• In scientific literature: "The reaction was carried out in the presence of ethanoic acid."
• In product labels: "Contains ethanoic acid as a preservative."

It's worth noting that the change to the name is not mandatory, and both names (acetic acid and ethanoic acid) will likely be used interchangeably for some time.