What is another name for ethanoic acid?

Ethanoic acid is commonly known as acetic acid, which is its IUPAC name and reflects its chemical structure. The term "ethanoic" indicates that the compound consists of a two-carbon chain (eth-) with a carboxylic acid functional group (-oic). Acetic acid is widely used in cooking, particularly as a component of vinegar, and in various industrial applications. It is important to recognize that while other acids have distinct names and structures, they do not correspond to ethanoic acid. For instance, formic acid is a one-carbon carboxylic acid, citric acid has a completely different three-carboxylic acid structure and is found in citrus fruits, and propanoic acid (a three-carbon acid) also differs significantly in structure and properties. Therefore, acetic acid is the correct and recognized alternative name for ethanoic acid.