Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its chemical formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in ant venom. Its name comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. Esters, salts, and the anions derived from formic acid are referred to as formates.
Properties
Formic acid is a colorless liquid having a highly pungent, penetrating odor at room temperature. It is miscible with water and most polar organic solvents, and is somewhat soluble in hydrocarbons. In hydrocarbons and in the vapor phase, it consists of hydrogen-bonded dimers rather than individual molecules.Owing to its tendency to hydrogen-bond, gaseous formic acid does not obey the ideal gas law.Solid formic acid (two polymorphs) consists of an effectively endless network of hydrogen-bonded formic acid molecules.
Uses
A major use of formic acid is as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed. In Europe, it is applied on silage (including fresh hay) to promote the fermentation of lactic acid and to suppress the formation of butyric acid; it also allows fermentation to occur quickly, and at a lower temperature, reducing the loss of nutritional value.Formic acid arrests certain decay processes and causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer, and so it is widely used to preserve winter feed for cattle.[citation needed] In the poultry industry, it is sometimes added to feed to kill E. coli bacteria.
Formic acid is also significantly used in the production of leather, including tanning , and in dyeing and finishing of textile because of its acidic nature.
Formic acid is also used in place of mineral acids for various cleaning products, such as limescale remover and toilet bowl cleaner. Some formate esters are artificial flavorings or perfumes. Beekeepers use formic acid as a miticide against the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) and the Varroa mite. The use of formic acid in fuel cells is also under investigation.
Laboratory use
Formic acid is a source for a formyl group for example in the formylation of methylaniline to N-methylformanilide in toluene. In synthetic organic chemistry, formic acid is often used as a source of hydride ion.
Medical use
Formic acid has been shown to be an effective treatment against warts and is marketed for that purpose by Meda AB under the trade name Vårtfri in Sweden and Endwarts internationally.
ITEM | 85% | 90% |
Color Index(Platinum-Cobalt) | 20 | 10 |
Purity | 85% min | 90%min |
Cl | 0.005% max | 0.003%max |
SO4 | 0.002% max | 0.001%max |
Fe | 0.0005% max | 0.0001%max |
Residue after evaporation | 0.02% max | 0.006%max |
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