Answer to Question #145353 in General Chemistry for Alexandra

Question

If a bottle of vinegar is left open to the air (room temperature) for a month, what would happen to the pH of the vinegar? and expanation

Answer 1

Vinegar has an almost indefinite shelf-life which means it doesn't spoil when left for a very long time though the colour may change and sediments may form which leads to a general reduction in the quality of the vinegar.

If vinegar is left open to the air for a month, then there will be an increse in the PH of the acetic acid that it mainly contains which means the PH will continue to move towards neutral.

For example, if vinegar that has a PH of 3 is left to open air, then after a month the PH will likely have increased to the range of 4-5.

So concluding, the more vinegar is exposed to open air, the more the PH will increase drifting towards neutrality.