before vowels acet-, word-forming element from comb. form of acetic and generally indicating compounds from or related to acetic acid.

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[Latin acetum, vinegar, whose primary constituent is acetic acid.]

Acetic acid can be made by fermenting ethyl alcohol using acetobacter bacteria; an intermediate product is acetaldehyde, an important raw material for synthesizing other organic compounds; salts or esters of acetic acid are acetates. The radical CH3CO— from acetic acid is the acetyl group and aceto- can refer to this group, as in acetone, a ketone used as a reagent and solvent; acetanilide, a form of the dyestuff aniline; and acetonitrile, a colourless and poisonous liquid used as a solvent.