Uses of white vinegar
• Cooking
• Baking
• Cleaning
• Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
• Removing pet-related odours
• Softening fabrics
Is white vinegar flammable?
White vinegar comprises 5-10% acetic acid and 90-95% of water. Due to the high content of water, it is not flammable. However, concentrated acetic acid is flammable, and a high temperature can result in the formation of an explosive vapour/air mixture. It can even burn through rock or metal. However, when white vinegar is heated, it will never result in a fire as the acetic acid content is too low and the water content is way higher. And water, as it is well established, helps in extinguishing the fire. The mixture would vaporize instead of resulting in fire.
(Note: It’s best not to try heating vinegar. There are kinds of vinegars, used for industrial purposes, with an acetic content higher than 30%. Also, it’s advisable to install functional smoke detectors and fire extinguishers at home, school or office.)
What Is Acetic Acid?
Vinegar is known for its versatility and a vast number of uses. The main ingredient of all the vinegar is acetic acid and probably the reason why there is a doubt if it is flammable or not. Acetic acid is a chemical compound and the main reason why vinegar tastes tangy or acidic. As an individual compound, acetic acid can be quite hazardous. It is highly flammable. But when mixed with other liquids, it becomes a lot less dangerous. Different types of vinegar have different percentages of acetic acid that diversify its usage and availability. Let’s dive deep into its types and whether it is flammable or not.
Types of vinegar
The percentage of acetic acid differs in different types of vinegar. And the list of various type of vinegar is vast. Let us see if they are flammable or not:
• Apple cider vinegar: As the name suggests, apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the sugar from apples. It is used in chutneys, salad dressing, and food preservatives. Some fitness enthusiasts even drink it to aid weight loss and improve their skin or hair. With 5-6% acetic acid content, apple cider vinegar is, again, not flammable.
• Balsamic vinegar: Made by pressing grapes in oak barrels, balsamic vinegar is used in sweet dishes. The acidity level of balsamic vinegar is 6 %, which makes it highly less likely to catch fire.
• White wine vinegar: Quite evident from its name, this type of vinegar is made from white wine. The white wine is first fermented following which it is oxidized into acid and then distilled. It is used in many sauces and for marinades as well. With a level of 4-7% acetic acid, white wine vinegar is not flammable at all.
Other types of vinegar include red wine vinegar, malt vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, and sherry vinegar, to name a few. All kinds of vinegar have a low percentage of acetic acid, which makes them all inflammable.
Conclusion
Vinegar has been in use for ages now. It can be made at home and is also widely available in the market at cheap rates. The uses of vinegar range from cooking to cleaning to also reaping some amazing health benefits. Although it contains highly flammable acetic acid, it cannot catch fire due to the high content of water level. The less percentage of acetic acid wipes out the flammable properties of the chemical compound. Hence, it can be safely kept at home and used for heating as well.
- Can vinegar make the fire worse?
No matter how much it is heated, vinegar will not ignite or aggravate fire as the primary content here is water, and water never causes or aggravates fire.
- Is vinegar a good fire suppressant?
Vinegar, when mixed with baking soda, produces carbon dioxide, which can help extinguish the fire. But, it is best to carry out this experiment in a lab instead of at a real-life fire accident. Water is the cheapest and best way to extinguish a fire.
- What happens if vinegar fumes are inhaled?
If a large quantity of vinegar is heated for a prolonged period, say 7-8 hours, it will produce fumes that can be dangerous. It can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and can also result in potential damage to the lungs and skin. However, this can happen only in extreme scenarios where the fumes are so much that you are deprived of oxygen.
