properties of acetous acid.

301

Class III. ...ACIDS COMPOSED OF MORE THAN TWO BASES.

ACETOUS ACID.

PART XCI.

r HIS acid exists combined with much mucilaginous and ex-tractive matter, and some portion of acidulous tartrite of potashin the common vinegar. When freed from them, it is calledacetous acid, or distilled vinegar.

PROPERTIES OF ACETOUS ACID.

Acetous acid is a perfectly colourless fluid, of an agreeableacidulous odour, and pleasant sour taste, though frequently, (atleast when not carefully prepared) it possesses more or less ofan empyreumatic flavour. It acts on almost all the metallic sub-stances. Its combinations are attended with a variety of im-portant phenomena, and afford products of the greatest utilityin the arts, &c. Its affinity to earths, alcalies, and metallicoxids, is inferior to that of the sulphuric, muriatic, and nitricacids.