Acetin

/ˈæsɪtɪn/ noun

Definition

A clear, oily liquid compound formed when acetic acid combines with glycerol, used in cosmetics, medicines, and as a solvent.

Etymology

From acetic acid + glycerin, named in the 1800s when chemists began systematically creating compounds by combining known substances to create new materials.

Kelly Says

Acetin is one of the first designer chemicals humans created—it's what happens when you chemically marry acetic acid (from vinegar) with glycerin (from soap-making), making something completely new that doesn't exist in nature.

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