Acid Equivalent

The theoretical amount of the original (or parent) chemical compound (i.e. acid) within the formulated active ingredient component of a pesticide. A parent acid is made into another formula (resulting in the term active ingredient) by combining with some other elements, and this is called a derivative, often term salt of [compound name], or ester of [compound name]. The different derivatives of a pesticide will have different concentrations of the original chemical compound within it; the higher the concentration within the derivative the higher the acid equivalent. The term is often shortened to AE.