Substance profile
Acetic acid
Acetic acid is a clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor.
01 · Identification
What Acetic acid is
Acetic acid is a clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Its molecular formula is C2H4O2 and its molecular weight is 60.05 g/mol. It boils at 118 °C, melts at 16.6 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Acetic acid identifiers and molecular data
Acetic acid CAS number and EC number
Acetic acid molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Acetic acid
- glacial acetic acid
- ethanoic acid
- CH3COOH
- vinegar acid
- Acetic Acid (Aqueous)
- Acetic Acid, Glacial
- Aci-Jel
- Ethanoic Acid Monomer
- Ethylic Acid
- Glacial Acetic Acid (Pure Compound)
- Methanecarboxylic Acid
- acetic acid … %
03 · GHS classification
Acetic acid hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Acetic acid pictograms and signal word
Acetic acid hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flammable liquids GHS chapter 2.6 | Category 3 | H226 | GHS02 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Acetic acid hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapour. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Acetic acid. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Acetic acid
Our own Acetic acid safety data sheet walks through all sixteen sections of the published data. What it is not is the document an inspector asks for: an SDS is issued for a product by its supplier, so the sheet covering the grade actually standing in your store exists only in that supplier’s version. Collecting those and keeping them current as suppliers revise them is a separate job.
04 · Precautionary statements
Acetic acid precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 10 precautionary statements to Acetic acid. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Acetic acid name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | оцетна киселина … % |
| Spanish español | Ácido acético al … % |
| Czech čeština | octová kyselina … % |
| Danish dansk | eddikesyre … % |
| German Deutsch | Essigsäure … % |
| Estonian eesti | äädikhape … % |
| Greek ελληνικά | οξικό οξύ … % |
| English English | acetic acid … % |
| French français | acide acétique à …% |
| Croatian hrvatski | octena kiselina … % |
| Italian italiano | acido acetico … % |
| Latvian latviešu | etiķskābe, … % |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | …% acto rūgštis |
| Hungarian magyar | ecetsav … % |
| Maltese Malti | aċidu aċetiku … % |
| Dutch Nederlands | azijnzuur … % |
| Polish polski | kwas octowy … % |
| Portuguese português | ácido acético a ... % |
| Romanian română | acid acetic ... % |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyselina octová ... % |
| Slovenian slovenščina | ocetna kislina ... % |
| Finnish suomi | etikkahappo … % |
| Swedish svenska | ättiksyra ... % |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Acetic acid GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Acetic acid, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Acetic acid
- Flammable liquid and vapour.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- Keep container tightly closed.
- Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/…] equipment.
- Use only non-sparking tools.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Store in a well-ventilated place.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Acetic acid in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Acetic acid health hazards and exposure limits
Acetic acid hazard summary
Liquid causes second degree burns after contact for a few minutes; [CHRIS] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Glacial refers to a number of acids, e.g., acetic and phosphoric, which have a freezing point slightly below room temperature when in a highly pure state. For example, glacial acetic acid is 99.8% pure and crystallizes at 16.6 C. [Hawley] Household vinegar is usually a 5% solution. Use skin protection if >10% solution of acetic acid. The vapor can cause lacrimation. [HSDB] A case of RADS and a case of asthma caused by glacial acetic acid have been reported in the medical literature. [Rajan, 1989; Kivity, 1994] Pulmonary edema may result from inhalation of high concentrations. [NJ-HSFS]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Acetic acid occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 10.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 10 ppm (25 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 10 ppm (25 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 10 ppm (25 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 15 ppm (37 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 10 ppm (25 mg/m3) ST 15 ppm (37 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 50 ppm (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 50 ppm [From NPG: Acetic acid] (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 50.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Acetic acid properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Acetic acid boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 117.9 °C (244.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| 117.78 °C (244 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 117.78 °C (244 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Acetic acid melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 16.64 °C (62 °F) | HSDB | |
| 16.67 °C (62 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 16.61 °C (61.9 °F) | CAMEO |
Acetic acid density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.051 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 1.0446 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Acetic acid solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Miscible with water | HSDB | |
| Miscible with ethanol, ethyl ether, acetone, benzene; soluble in carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulfide | HSDB | ||
| Miscible with glycerol; insoluble in carbon disulfide | HSDB |
Acetic acid vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 11 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 11.4 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 15.7 mmHg | at 25 °C, Extrapolated | HSDB |
Acetic acid flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 39.44 °C (103 °F) | HSDB | |
| 40 °C (104 °F) | HSDB |
Acetic acid autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 463.89 °C (867 °F) | HSDB | |
| 516.11 °C (961 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 485 °C (905 °F) | ICSC |
Acetic acid lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 4 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 5.4 % by volume | CAMEO |
Acetic acid upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 19.9 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 16 % by volume | CAMEO | ||
| 17 % by volume | ICSC |
Acetic acid vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 2.07 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 2.1 (air = 1) | ICSC |
Acetic acid odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Odor Threshold Range: 0.21 to 1.0 ppm | HSDB | |
| Detection in air is 24.3 ppm (chemically pure) | HSDB | ||
| Odor low: 2.5 mg/cu m; Odor high: 2,500 mg/cu m. | HSDB |
Acetic acid critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 319.56 °C (607.2 °F) | HSDB |
Acetic acid corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrosive organic acid | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Acetic acid fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Acetic acid fire potential
Moderate fire risk.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Corrosivity
Glacial acetic acid (100%) is highly corrosive, and its ingestion has produced penetrating lesions of the esophagus and later strictures of the esophagus and pylorus in man.
Source: HSDB
10 · Handling and storage
Acetic acid storage and handling
Acetic acid reactive group
CAMEO Chemicals places Acetic acid in the reactive group Acids, Carboxylic. Compatibility with other chemicals is worked out from the group, not from the individual substance — which is why two substances you have never seen react can still be flagged as a pair that must be separated.
A reactive group is a CAMEO Chemicals (US NOAA) grouping, not a GHS hazard class: it has no code, no category and no legal force. It is what the storage compatibility matrix on this site computes from.
Acetic acid safe storage
Fireproof. Separated from food and feedstuffs, strong oxidants, strong acids and strong bases. Store only in original container. Well closed. Keep in a well-ventilated room. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Acetic acid storage conditions
Store in a dry, well-ventilated place. Separate from oxidizing materials and alkaline substances.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Acetic acid incompatible materials
Incompatibilities: carbonates, hydroxides, many oxides, and phosphates.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Acetic acid reactivity
ACETIC ACID reacts exothermically with chemical bases. Subject to oxidation (with heating) by strong oxidizing agents. Dissolution in water moderates the chemical reactivity of acetic acid, A 5% solution of acetic acid is ordinary vinegar. Acetic acid forms explosive mixtures with p-xylene and air (Shraer, B.I. 1970. Khim. Prom. 46(10):747-750.).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Acetic acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Acetic acid UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
The same CAS number is shipped under more than one UN number. Which entry applies follows from the form and the concentration of the consignment — read the proper shipping name, not the CAS.
Acetic acid under UN 2789 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACETIC ACID, GLACIAL or ACETIC ACID SOLUTION, more than 80 % acid, by mass | 8 | CF1 | II | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic acid, glacial or Acetic acid solution, with more than 80 percent acid, by mass | 8 | II | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
Acetic acid under UN 2790 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACETIC ACID SOLUTION, not less than 50 % but not more than 80 % acid, by mass | 8 | C3 | II | |
| ACETIC ACID SOLUTION, more than 10 % and less than 50 % acid, by mass | 8 | C3 | III | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic acid solution, not less than 50 percent but not more than 80 percent acid, by mass | 8 | II | |
| Acetic acid solution, with more than 10 percent and less than 50 percent acid, by mass | 8 | III | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Acetic acid — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Acetic acid?
The CAS number of Acetic acid is 64-19-7. Its EC number is 200-580-7.
What is the chemical formula of Acetic acid?
The molecular formula of Acetic acid is C2H4O2 and its molecular weight is 60.05 g/mol.
What does a Acetic acid label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Acetic acid carries the pictograms Flame and Corrosion and the signal word is Danger.
Is Acetic acid flammable?
Yes. CLP Annex VI assigns Acetic acid H226 — flammable liquid and vapour. The flash point reported for it is 39.44 °C (103 °F) (HSDB).
Is Acetic acid a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Acetic acid. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for Acetic acid?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Acetic acid is 10.0 [ppm] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Acetic acid?
The boiling point reported for Acetic acid is 117.9 °C (244.2 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Acetic acid?
The melting point reported for Acetic acid is 16.64 °C (62 °F) (HSDB).
How should Acetic acid be stored?
CLP Annex VI assigns Acetic acid the storage statement P403. Store in a dry, well-ventilated place. Separate from oxidizing materials and alkaline substances. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Acetic acid
Keep going: substances starting with A, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.
Next