Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is an organic compound. This can be known from its chemical formula. Organic compounds are generally composed of carbon atoms bonded with hydrogen, and may contain other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus. The presence of carbon-hydrogen bonds is a key indicator of an organic compound. In the case of acetic acid, it has two carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms (CH3- and -COOH), making it an organic compound.