Han wrote:
Frank wrote in news:gt4657$d4a$1
@news.eternal-september.org:

As a chemist who had to study German, I note that acetic acid is,
Essigsäure in German and Essig is the German name for vinegar.
Historically, I assume that as vinegar has been around forever, when the
German's started to develop their chemical talents and extracted acetic
acid from vinegar, they naturally called it vinegar acid. Similar
nomenclature evolved for formic acid (Ameisensäure) which is found in
ants (Ameise).

Same in Dutch:
Azijn is vinegar
Azijnzuur is acetic acid
Mier is ant
Mierezuur is formic acid

But the real point is that vinegar or dilute acetic acid solutions are
mild, but pure concentrated acetic acid is an aggressive acid, though not
an oxidant like sulfuric or nitric acids.

Yes but for attacking cement, I don't know for sure. I do know that
muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) will attack cement and that no
oxidation is involved. Me, I would not use vinegar on cement to be on
the safe side. OP could run test and take a chip of brick and let sit
in vinegar.