Formic acid

 

Formic acid

Chemical formula	H2CO2
OTP appearance	clear, fuming liquid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	46
Density(g/cc)	1.22
Melting Point(°C)	8.4
Boiling Point(°C)	100
Solubility in water(g/L)	misc
NFPA 704	2 3 1

Uses

Justification Questioned

Other

• Hide tanning material
• source of carbon monoxide via dehydration with sulfuric acid
• Pharm: wart remover
• antibacterial agent for animal feed
• Curing and coagulating natural rubber

Natural occurrence

• Formic acid does occur naturally.

  It's produced by ants and is part of the reason ant bites hurt.

  It's produced by nettles and is part of the reason their stings hurt. Histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin are also present to provide additional itchiness.

Hazards

• Skin irritation

Production

Extraction

from wood

cf. Alkali wood extraction and wood distillation

from ants

Dry distillation of dead ants produces (among other things) formic acid. That's where the name comes from.

Synthesis

from oxalic acid

Thermal decomposition of oxalic acid in glycerol yields carbon dioxide and formic acid.

H₂C₂O₄

{C₃H₅(OH)₃

→

heat}

H₂CO₂(v) + CO₂(g)