Formic Acid: Properties and Uses of This Organic Compound

Formic acid, also known as methanoic acid, is a colorless liquid with a sharp, pungent smell. Its chemical formula is HCOOH. Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid and is found naturally in some plants and insect stings/bites. The name comes from the Latin word "formica," meaning ant, as it is a chief component of ant venom.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Formic acid is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature, though it freezes to a crystalline solid below its melting point of 8.3°C (46.9°F). It is soluble in water, alcohols, and ethers. When in solution or as a vapor, it has a sharp, repellent odor like that of ants. Pure formic acid has a boiling point of 100.8°C (213.4°F). It dissociates (ionizes) in water to form hydronium cations (H3O+) and hydrogencarboxylate anions (HCOO−). Formic acid is miscible with water, most alcohols, and organic solvents in all proportions.

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