In top right corner is a “ball-and-stick model” of a vinegar molecule. Each ball represents an atom, while the sticks indicate their bonds. The arrow points from these atoms to their corresponding symbols on the periodic table; the unique types of atoms are known as elements.
Vinegar, scientifically called ethanoic or acetic acid, has the chemical formula CH₃COOH. In the model, different colors represent different elements: red balls represent oxygen (O), dark gray balls represent carbon (C), and light gray balls represent hydrogen (H). These atoms are bonded in a specific arrangement, forming the molecule CH₃COOH, which is known as vinegar. Interestingly, vinegar is also a component of our rocket fuel, playing a role in launching rockets.
There are two broad categories of chemicals: organic and inorganic. Vinegar is an organic molecule coming from living organisms and contains carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. Baking soda is an inorganic compound that originates from non-living sources and does not have C-H bonds.