Difference Between Dichloroacetic Acid and Acetic Acid

Dichloroacetic acid (1,1 '-dichlorooxalic acid) and acetic acid (acetic acid) are two compounds with significant differences in chemical structure and properties. Although there may be some similarities between the two in some properties, dichloroacetic acid is widely used in chemical industry, environmental protection and materials science because of its unique structure and function. In this paper, the differences between dichloroacetic acid and acetic acid are analyzed in detail from the aspects of chemical structure, physical properties, chemical properties, application fields and safety and environmental protection.

1. chemical structure differences

The chemical structures of dichloroacetic acid and acetic acid are significantly different in the molecular formula. Acetic acid has the formula C2H4O2, in which two oxygen atoms are attached to each of the two carbon atoms of the acetate to form a carboxylic acid group (-COOH). The molecular formula of dichloroacetic acid is C2H2Cl2O2, in which two chlorine atoms replace two hydrogen atoms in the acetate group, forming the structure of dichlorooxalic acid.

In the structure of dichloroacetic acid, two chlorine atoms are located on the two carbon atoms of the acetate group to form para-substitution, which makes dichloroacetic acid show high stability in certain properties and unique in chemical reactions. activity.

2. physical property differences

1. Boiling Point: The boiling point of acetic acid is 118.1°C, while the boiling point of dichloroacetic acid is 78.7°C. The boiling point of dichloroacetic acid is significantly lower than that of acetic acid, which indicates that the force between molecules of dichloroacetic acid is weak, and the force between molecules is mainly dispersion force.

2. Density: Acetic acid has a density of 1.049g/cm³, while dichloroacetic acid has a density of 1.154g/cm³. The density of dichloroacetic acid is slightly higher than that of acetic acid, which indicates that dichloroacetic acid has more hydrogen atoms in its molecular structure, increasing the molecular weight.

3. Solubility: Acetic acid exhibits good solubility in water, but has low solubility in organic solvents. Dichloroacetic acid is less soluble in water, but more stable in organic solvents, which makes dichloroacetic acid advantageous in certain industrial applications.

3. chemical differences

1. Acidity: Acetic acid is a strong acid, its acidity in aqueous solution is very obvious, can react with alkaline substances to form salt and water. The acidity of dichloroacetic acid is much weaker, and its acidity is mainly reflected in the dissociation ability of its carboxylic acid group.

2. Stability: Acetic acid has poor stability and is easily affected by the external environment, such as light and acidic conditions, which may cause decomposition or release harmful substances. The stability of dichloroacetic acid is high, and the two chlorine atoms in its structure increase the inertness of the molecule, making it stable in most environments.

3. Reactivity: Acetic acid exhibits high activity in chemical reactions and can react with a variety of substances, such as esterification reactions, hydrolysis reactions, etc. The reactivity of dichloroacetic acid is relatively low, but the two chlorine atoms in its structure make it more active in some reactions.

4. Application Differences

1. Industrial applications: The main industrial application of acetic acid is as a raw material for the production of acetic acid for the manufacture of acetic acid and its derivatives. Dichloroacetic acid is widely used in plastic production, rubber processing and other fields, is an important raw material in the organic chemical industry.

2. Environmental protection applications: The main application of acetic acid in the field of environmental protection is as a solvent and dehydrating agent, but in some cases it may cause environmental pollution. Dichloroacetic acid is mainly used as an environmental protection material in the field of environmental protection, and its unique structure makes it have important application value in water pollution control and industrial wastewater treatment.

5. safety and environmental protection differences

1. Toxicity: Acetic acid has certain toxicity, and its toxicity mainly comes from its acidic substances and volatile substances. Dichloroacetic acid is also highly toxic, but its toxicity is mainly derived from its chlorine atom structure, which makes it more toxic in some cases.

2. Environmental friendliness: The use of acetic acid has a greater impact on the environment, especially its rapid decomposition in water bodies, which may cause water pollution. However, dichloroacetic acid has stronger stability in water due to its two chlorine atoms in its structure, which reduces the pollution to the environment.

Conclusion

There are significant differences between dichloroacetic acid and acetic acid in chemical structure, physical properties, chemical properties, application fields, safety and environmental protection. Although dichloroacetic acid is not as practical as acetic acid in some aspects, its unique structure and properties make it of great value in environmentally friendly materials and industrial applications. In the field of industrial production and environmental protection, the use of dichloroacetic acid needs to combine its advantages and potential risks for rational application.