The product has a very good market demand, rate increasing at 4% per annum. It can be prepared by various synthetic routes as well as by fermentation of starches. Best economic process for the production of glacial acetic acid from the route of methanol and carbon monoxide condensation route. Methanol and carbon monoxide are indigenously available in our country. It can react with alkali and forms its salt. It iscompletely soluble in water and strongly irritant to skin. Dilute acetic acid is used in reserving foods. It generally reacts with the metal. It is clear, colourless liquid, pungent order, miscible with water, alcohol, glycerol and ether, insoluble in carbon disulfide. Used in the manufacturing of acetic anhydride, cellulose acetate, and vinyl acetate monomer, acetic esters, chloro acetic acid, production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, insecticides, photographic chemicals etc. food additive, latex coagulant, oil well acidizer, textile printing.