What is Glacial Acetic Acid What is its Melting Point?

Glacial acetic acid is the pure, anhydrous (water-free) form of acetic acid (chemical formula: CH₃COOH). The term "glacial" refers to its property of solidifying into ice-like crystals at a temperature just below room temperature, giving it an appearance similar to glaciers or ice. This property distinguishes it from regular acetic acid solutions, such as vinegar, which contain significant amounts of water and do not freeze at the same temperature.

Glacial acetic acid is a colorless liquid with a strong, pungent odor and is highly corrosive in its concentrated form. It is widely used as a reagent and solvent in the chemical industry, for the production of chemicals like acetic anhydride, acetate esters, and in pharmaceuticals, food preservation, and analytical chemistry.

Melting Point of Glacial Acetic Acid

The melting point (also referred to as the freezing point) of glacial acetic acid is approximately 16.6°C (61.9°F). In Kelvin, this is about 289–290 K. This relatively high melting point for a simple organic acid means that glacial acetic acid can solidify at cooler room temperatures, especially in colder climates, which is the origin of its "glacial" name.