Oxalic acid

 

Oxalic acid

Chemical formula	C2H2O4
OTP appearance	white solid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	90.03
Density(g/cc)	1.9
Melting Point(°C)	189-191
Boiling Point(°C)	decomp
Solubility in water(g/L)	143
Solubility in ethanol(g/L)	237
NFPA 704	1 3 0

Uses

Justification Questioned

Other

• Key intermediate for formic acid carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide

Natural occurrence

• Oxalic acid does occur naturally in plants

Hazards

• Toxic

Production

Extraction

from sawdust

cf. Alkali wood extraction

Synthesis

from sugars

Sucrose, oxidized by nitric acid, produces oxalic acid.

2 C₆H₂₂O₁₂ + 14 HNO₃ → 14 NO₂ + 3 H₂C₄O₄ + 26 H₂O