...instead coverts the incoming solar energy into a two-carbon molecule called acetate: essentially acetic acid, or vinegar. The ethyl variety I.e. ethyl acetate, is often used on Earth in a wide-range of applications for enamels, lacquers, dry cleaning...
... the most tastiest snack to feed on, but on Earth some organisms use organic salts, such as oxalates and acetates, for energy. With this analogy in mind, it could be possible that microorganisms on Mars, if they existed or still do exist...