醋酸：理化特性為無色透明液體、有強烈刺激性氣味、在常溫下是固體、易溶于水和酒精，相對密度(d4)1.0492。熔點16℃、沸點118℃、 折射率(nD20)1.3716、閃點39℃、蒸汽與空氣混合物爆炸下限4%～17%(vol)、自燃點427℃。與水、乙醇、苯和乙醚混溶，不溶于二硫化碳。 低濃度的乙酸無毒，但當其水溶液或在溶劑中的濃度超過50%時，對皮膚就有強烈的腐蝕性，對眼、呼吸道、食道及胃有強烈的刺激作用， 能引起嘔吐、腹瀉、神經(jīng)麻痹和尿中毒，甚至死亡。

醋酸的主要用途：

■ 醋酸→醋酸乙烯→聚醋酸乙烯→聚乙烯醇

■ 醋酸→醋酸乙烯共聚物

■ 醋酸→醋酐→醋酸纖維素

■ 醋酸→醋酸酯(醋酸乙酯、醋酸丁酯)

■ 醋酸→氯乙酸

■ 醋酸→對苯二甲酸(醋酸為溶劑)

還可進一步地加工成農(nóng)藥、醫(yī)藥、染料、涂料、合成纖維、塑料和粘合劑等多種產(chǎn)品。因此，醋酸在化工、合成纖維、醫(yī)藥、 輕工等工業(yè)部門有廣泛的用途。 醋酸的主要消費領域有醋酸乙烯、PTA、醋酐和醋酸脂類。

Acetic acid: its physical and chemical properties are colorless and transparent liquid, with strong pungent odor, solid at room temperature, easily soluble in water and alcohol, and its relative density (D4) is 1.0492. The melting point is 16℃, the boiling point is 118℃, the refractive index (nd20) is 1.3716, the flash point is 39℃, the lower explosion limit of steam-air mixture is 4% ~ 17% (vol), and the self-ignition point is 427℃. It is miscible with water, ethanol, benzene and ether, but insoluble in carbon disulfide. Low concentration acetic acid is non-toxic, but when its concentration in aqueous solution or solvent exceeds 50%, it has strong corrosiveness to skin, strong irritation to eyes, respiratory tract, esophagus and stomach, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nerve paralysis, urinary poisoning and even death.

Main uses of acetic acid:

■ Acetic acid → vinyl acetate → polyvinyl acetate → polyvinyl alcohol

■ Acetic acid → vinyl acetate copolymer

■ Acetic acid → acetic anhydride → cellulose acetate

■ Acetic acid→ acetate (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate)

■ Acetic acid → chloroacetic acid

■ Acetic acid→ terephthalic acid (acetic acid as solvent)

It can be further processed into pesticides, medicines, dyes, coatings, synthetic fibers, plastics, adhesives and other products. Therefore, acetic acid is widely used in chemical industry, synthetic fiber, medicine, light industry and other industrial sectors. The main consumption areas of acetic acid are vinyl acetate, PTA, acetic anhydride and acetate.