Step 4
Additional fact - Vinegar typically contains 5-8% acetic acid in water
Answer: Acetic acid (CH3COOH)
Memory Trick for Common Acids: 'Very Hungry Children Like Sweet Candy' - Vinegar (Acetic), Hydrochloric (stomach), Citric (lemon), Lactic (milk), Sulphuric (battery), Carbonic (soft drinks).
Common Mistakes: Students often confuse chemical names with common names. For example, calling sodium bicarbonate as 'soda' instead of baking soda, or mixing up caustic soda (NaOH) with washing soda (Na2CO3). Another frequent error is not connecting the pH scale correctly with acid-base strength.
Exam Focus Areas: Concentrate on chemical names of everyday substances, food preservatives, antacids, bleaching agents, and soap-detergent chemistry. Questions about pH of common substances and identification of acids/bases in household items appear regularly. Understanding the chemistry behind cooking processes like fermentation and food preservation gives an edge in scoring.