Formic acid

chemical compound

Formic acid, or methanoic acid, is the simplist carboxylic acid and has the chemical formula HCO
2
H
. Many animals use for defence. The word "formic" comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies, and the trivial name in some languages means "ant-acid", such as Dutch mierenzuur, Danish myresyre, Faroese meyrusýra, Français acide formique and German Ameisensäure. Esters, salts, and the anions derived from formic acid are called formates.

Formic acid
Skeletal structure of formic acid
Skeletal structure of formic acid
3D model of formic acid
3D model of formic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Formic acid[1]
Systematic IUPAC name
Methanoic acid[1]
Other names
Carbonous acid; Formylic acid; Hydrogen carboxylic acid; Hydroxy(oxo)methane; Metacarbonoic acid; Oxocarbinic acid; Oxomethanol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.527
EC Number
  • 200-579-1
E number E236 (preservatives)
KEGG
RTECS number
  • LQ4900000
UNII
  • O=CO
Properties
CH2O2
Molar mass 46.03 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless fuming liquid
Odor Pungent, penetrating
Density 1.220 g/mL
Melting point 8.4 °C (47.1 °F; 281.5 K)
Boiling point 100.8 °C (213.4 °F; 373.9 K)
Miscible
Solubility Miscible with ether, acetone, ethyl acetate, glycerol, methanol, ethanol
Partially soluble in benzene, toluene, xylenes
log P −0.54
Vapor pressure 35 mmHg (20 °C)[2]
Acidity (pKa) 3.77[3]
Conjugate base Formate
-19.90·10−6 cm3/mol
1.3714 (20 °C)
Viscosity 1.57 cP at 268 °C
Structure
Planar
1.41 D (gas)
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of
formation
ΔfHo298
−425.0 kJ/mol
Std enthalpy of
combustion
ΔcHo298
−254.6 kJ/mol
Standard molar
entropy
So298
131.8 J/mol K
Pharmacology
QP53AG01 (WHO)
Hazards
Main hazards Corrosive; irritant;
sensitizer
NFPA 704

2
3
1
 
R-phrases Template:R10 R35
S-phrases (S1/2) S23 S26 S45
Explosive limits 14–34%[source?]
18%–57% (90% solution)[2]
U.S. Permissible
exposure limit (PEL)
TWA 5 ppm (9 mg/m3)[2]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references
Formic acid is named after the ants that use it for attack and defense

In the 15th century, many alchemists reported that ants use an acidid fluid for defense. English naturalist John Ray was the first to get formic acid, by distilling ants, in 1671.

In nature, it is found in most ants.[4] The wood ants from the genus Formica can spray formic acid on their preys or to defend the nest. It is also known from the trichomes of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Formic acid is a naturally occurring component of the atmosphere due primarily to forest emissions.[5]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Favre, Henri A.; Powell, Warren H. (2014). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 745. doi:10.1039/9781849733069. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0296". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. Brown, H. C. et al., in Braude, E. A. and Nachod, F. C., Determination of Organic Structures by Physical Methods, Academic Press, New York, 1955.
  4. Hoffman, Donald R. "Ant venoms" Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2010, vol. 10, pages 342–346. doi:10.1097/ACI.0b013e328339f325
  5. "Emission of formic and acetic acids from tropical savanna soils". Geophysical Research Letters. 18 (9): 1707–1710. 1991. Bibcode:1991GeoRL..18.1707S. doi:10.1029/91GL01565. {{cite journal}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)