Formic acid: Difference between revisions

{{Redirects|Ant acid|substances that neutralize stomach acidity|antacid}}

{{short description|Simplest carboxylic acid (HCOOH)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Chembox

| Verifiedfields = changed

| verifiedrevid =

| Name = Formic acid

| ImageFile2 = formic acid 85 percent.jpg

| ImageSize2 = 120px

| ImageFileL1 = .svg

| ImageNameL1 = Skeletal structure of formic acid

| ImageFileR1 = Formic-acid-CRC-MW-3D-balls.png

| ImageNameR1 = 3D model of formic acid

| PIN = Formic acid<ref name=iupac2013>{{cite book | title = Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book) | publisher = [[Royal Society of Chemistry|The Royal Society of Chemistry]] | date = 2014 | location = Cambridge | page = 745 | doi = 10.1039/9781849733069 | isbn = 978-0-85404-182-4| last1 = Favre | first1 = Henri A. | last2 = Powell | first2 = Warren H. }}</ref>

| SystematicName = Methanoic acid<ref name=iupac2013 />

| OtherNames = {{Unbulleted list|Isocarbonous acid|Carbonous acid|Formylic acid|Methylic acid|Hydrogencarboxylic acid|Hydroxy(oxo)methane|Metacarbonoic acid|Oxocarbinic acid|Oxomethanol|Hydroxymethylene oxide}}

|Section1={{Chembox Identifiers

| CASNo = 64-18-6

| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}

| Beilstein = 1209246

| ChEBI_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}}

| ChEBI = 30751

| ChEMBL_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}}

| ChEMBL = 116736

| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}

| ChemSpiderID = 278

| DrugBank_Ref = {{drugbankcite|correct|drugbank}}

| =

| EINECS = 200-579-1

| Gmelin = 1008

| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}

| PubChem = 284

| RTECS = LQ4900000

| SMILES = O=CO

| InChI = 1/HCOOH/c2-1-3/h1H,(H,2,3)

| = {{||}}

| StdInChI = 1S/HCOOH/c2-1-3/h1H,(H,2,3)

}}

|Section2={{Chembox Properties

| C=1 | H=2 | O=2

| Appearance = Colorless fuming liquid

| Odor = Pungent, penetrating

| Density = 1.220{{nbsp}}g/mL

| Solubility = Miscible

| SolubleOther = Miscible with [[diethyl ether|ether]], [[acetone]], [[ethyl acetate]], [[glycerol]], [[methanol]], [[ethanol]] <br /> Partially soluble in [[benzene]], [[toluene]], [[xylene]]s

| =

| BoilingPtC = 100.8

| pKa = 3.745<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Robert M. |last2=Martell |first2=Arthur E. |title=Critical Stability Constants Volume 6: Second Supplement |date=1989 |publisher=Plenum Press |location=New York |isbn=0-306-43104-1 |page=299}}</ref>

| ConjugateBase = [[Formate]]

| Viscosity = 1.57{{nbsp}}c[[Poise (unit)|P]] at 268&nbsp;°C

| LogP = −0.54

| RefractIndex = 1.3714 (20&nbsp;°C)

| MagSus = {{val|-19.90|e=-6|u=cm3/mol}}

| VaporPressure = 35{{nbsp}}mmHg (20&nbsp;°C)<ref name=PGCH/>

}}

|Section3={{Chembox Structure

| MolShape = [[wikt:planar|Planar]]

| = 1.[[|]]

|Section5={{Chembox Thermochemistry

| DeltaHf = −425.0{{nbsp}}kJ/mol

| DeltaHc = −254.6{{nbsp}}kJ/mol

| Entropy = 131.8{{nbsp}}J/mol&nbsp;K

}}

|={{Chembox

| ATCvet = yes

| ATCCode_prefix = P53

| =

}}

|Section7={{Chembox Hazards

| ExternalSDS = [http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/f5956.htm MSDS from JT Baker]

| MainHazards = Corrosive; irritant;<br />sensitizer

| NFPA-H = 3

| NFPA-F = 2

| NFPA-R = 0

| FlashPtC = 69

| AutoignitionPtC = 601

| ExploLimits = 14{{ndash}}34%{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}<br /> 18{{ndash}}57% (90% solution)<ref name=PGCH/>

| GHSPictograms = {{GHS02}} {{GHS05}}

| GHSSignalWord = Danger

| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|314}}

| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|260|264|280|301+330+331|303+361+353|304+340|305+351+338|310|321|363|405|501}}

| LD50 = 700{{nbsp}}mg/kg (mouse, oral), 1100{{nbsp}}mg/kg (rat, oral), 4000{{nbsp}}mg/kg (dog, oral)<ref name=IDLH>{{cite web |url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/64186.html |title = Formic acid |work = Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH) |publisher = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |date = 4 December 2014 |access-date = 26 March 2015}}</ref>

| PEL = TWA 5{{nbsp}}ppm (9{{nbsp}}mg/m³)<ref name=PGCH>{{PGCH|0296}}</ref>

| IDLH = 30{{nbsp}}ppm<ref name=PGCH/>

| REL = TWA 5{{nbsp}}ppm (9{{nbsp}}mg/m³)<ref name=PGCH/>

| LC50 = 7853{{nbsp}}ppm (rat, 15{{nbsp}}min)<br />3246{{nbsp}}ppm (mouse, 15{{nbsp}}min)<ref name=IDLH/>

}}

|Section8={{Chembox Related

| OtherFunction_label = [[carboxylic acid]]s

| OtherFunction = [[Acetic acid]]<br />[[Propionic acid]]

| OtherCompounds = [[Formaldehyde]]<br />[[Methanol]]}}

'''Formic acid''' ( '''methanoic acid''' is the simplest [[carboxylic acid]] [[chemical formula]] H. It is an important intermediate in [[chemical synthesis]] and occurs naturally, most notably in [[]] [[ |]] and [[]] [[]] , [[]]. theformicacid

==Natural occurrence==

{{See also|Insect defenses}}

Formic acid is found naturally in insects, weeds, fruits and vegetables, and forest emissions. It appears in most [[ants]] and in [[stingless bee]]s of the genus ''[[Oxytrigona]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/ACI.0b013e328339f325 |pmid=20445444 |title=Ant venoms |journal=Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=342–6 |year=2010 |last1=Hoffman |first1=Donald R |s2cid=4999650 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| pmid=24302133 | doi=10.1007/BF01020539 | volume=13 | issue=5 | title=Formic acid in caustic cephalic secretions of stingless bee,Oxytrigona (Hymenoptera: Apidae) | year=1987 | journal=J Chem Ecol | pages=1079–86 | last1 = Roubik | first1 = DW | last2 = Smith | first2 = BH | last3 = Carlson | first3 = RG| s2cid=30511107 }}</ref> [[Formica rufa species group|Wood ants]] from the genus ''[[Formica]]'' can spray formic acid on their prey or to defend the nest. The [[Cerura vinula|puss moth caterpillar]] (''Cerura vinula'') will spray it as well when threatened by predators. It is also found in the [[trichome]]s of [[stinging nettle]] (''Urtica dioica''). Apart from that, this acid is incorporated in many fruits such as pineapple (0.21 mg per 100 g), apple (2 mg per 100 g) and kiwi (1 mg per 100 g), as well as in many vegetables, namely onion (45 mg per 100 g), eggplant (1.34 mg per 100 g) and, in extremely low concentrations, cucumber (0.11 mg per 100 g).<ref>{{cite journal| pmc=3349212 | pmid=22593694 | doi=10.1100/2012/564367 | volume=2012 | title=Phenolic compounds analysis of root, stalk, and leaves of nettle | year=2012 | journal=ScientificWorldJournal | page=564367 | last1 = Otles | first1 = S | last2 = Yalcin | first2 = B | doi-access=free }}</ref> Formic acid is a naturally occurring component of the [[Atmosphere of Earth|atmosphere]] primarily due to forest emissions.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1029/91GL01565 |title=Emission of formic and acetic acids from tropical Savanna soils |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |volume=18 |issue=9 |pages=1707–10 |year=1991 |last1=Sanhueza |first1=Eugenio |last2=Andreae |first2=Meinrat O |bibcode=1991GeoRL..18.1707S }}</ref>

==History==

As early as the 15th century, some [[alchemy|alchemists]] and [[natural history|naturalists]] were aware that ant hills give off an acidic vapor. The first person to describe the isolation of this substance (by the distillation of large numbers of ants) was the English naturalist [[John Ray]], in 1671.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1098/rstl.1670.0052 |title=Extract of a Letter, Written by Mr John Wray to the Publisher January 13. 1670. Concerning Some Un-Common Observations and Experiments Made with an Acid Juyce to be Found in Ants |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London |volume=5 |issue=57–68 |pages=2063–2066 |year=1670 |last1=Wray |first1=J |bibcode=1670RSPT....5.2063W |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=i1eS9LAe3PsC&pg=PA51 | title = History of the process and present state of animal chemistry | last1 = Johnson | first1 = W. B. | year = 1803}}</ref> Ants secrete the formic acid for attack and defense purposes. Formic acid was first synthesized from [[hydrocyanic acid]] by the French chemist [[Joseph Gay-Lussac]]. In 1855, another French chemist, [[Marcellin Berthelot]], developed a synthesis from [[carbon monoxide]] similar to the process used today.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Formic acid was long considered a [[chemical compound]] of only minor interest in the chemical industry. In the late 1960s, significant quantities became available as a byproduct of [[acetic acid]] production. It now finds increasing use as a preservative and antibacterial in [[livestock]] feed.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

[[File:Formic Acid Hydrogenbridge V.1.svg|thumb|left|Cyclic dimer of formic acid; dashed <span style="color:green;">'''green'''</span> lines represent hydrogen bonds]]

Formic acid is a colorless liquid having a pungent, penetrating odor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/chemResult.html?recNo=468|title=OSHA Occupational Chemical Database – Occupational Safety and Health Administration|website=osha.gov|access-date=17 April 2015|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429045534/https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/chemResult.html?recNo=468|url-status=dead}}</ref> at room temperature, comparable to the related [[acetic acid]]. Formic acid is about ten times stronger than [[acetic acid]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}

It is [[Miscibility|miscible]] with water and most polar [[organic chemistry|organic]] [[solvent]]s, and is somewhat soluble in [[hydrocarbon]]s. In hydrocarbons and in the vapor phase, it consists of [[Hydrogen bond|hydrogen-bond]]ed [[dimer (chemistry)|dimers]] rather than individual molecules.<ref name=Ullmann_2009>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/14356007.a12_013 |chapter=Formic Acid |title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry |year=2000 |last1=Reutemann |first1=Werner |last2=Kieczka |first2=Heinz |isbn=978-3-527-30673-2 }}</ref><ref name=Balabin_2009>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/jp9002643 |pmid=19344174 |title=Polar (Acyclic) Isomer of Formic Acid Dimer: Gas-Phase Raman Spectroscopy Study and Thermodynamic Parameters |journal=The Journal of Physical Chemistry A |volume=113 |issue=17 |pages=4910–8 |year=2009 |author= Roman M. Balabin |bibcode=2009JPCA..113.4910B }}</ref> Owing to its tendency to hydrogen-bond, gaseous formic acid does not obey the [[ideal gas law]].<ref name=Balabin_2009/> Solid formic acid, which can exist in either of two [[polymorphism (materials science)|polymorphs]], consists of an effectively endless network of hydrogen-bonded formic acid molecules. Formic acid forms a high-boiling [[azeotrope]] with water (107.3&nbsp;°C; 77.5% formic acid). Liquid formic acid tends to [[supercooling|supercool]].

<!--Please leave the clear left template in, as the image file for this section forces the next section's title to improperly format-->{{clear|left}}

==Chemical reactions==

===Decomposition===

Formic acid readily decomposes by dehydration in the presence of concentrated [[sulfuric acid]] to form [[carbon monoxide]] and water:

:HCO₂H → H₂O + CO

Treatment of formic acid with sulfuric acid is a convenient laboratory source of CO.<ref>{{OrgSynth|author=Koch, H. |author2=Haaf, W.|title=1-Adamantanecarboxylic Acid|year=1973|collvol=5|collvolpages=20|prep=cv5p0020}}</ref><ref>{{OrgSynth|title=''p''-Tolualdehyde|author=G. H. Coleman, David Craig|collvol=2|collvolpages=583|year=1943|prep=cv2p0583}}</ref>

In the presence of [[platinum]], it decomposes with a release of [[hydrogen]] and [[carbon dioxide]].

:HCO₂H → H₂ + CO₂

Soluble [[ruthenium]] catalysts are also effective.<ref name="Fellay2008">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/anie.200800320 |pmid=18393267 |title=A Viable Hydrogen-Storage System Based on Selective Formic Acid Decomposition with a Ruthenium Catalyst |journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition |volume=47 |issue=21 |year=2008 |last1=Fellay |first1=Céline |last2=Dyson |first2=Paul J. |last3=Laurenczy |first3=Gábor |pages=3966–8}}</ref><ref>G. Laurenczy, C. Fellay, P. J. Dyson, Hydrogen production from formic acid. ''PCT Int. Appl.'' (2008), 36pp. CODEN: PIXXD2 WO 2008047312 A1 20080424 AN 2008:502691</ref> Carbon monoxide free hydrogen has been generated in a very wide pressure range (1–600 bar).<ref name="Fellay2008" />

===Reactant===

Formic acid shares most of the chemical properties of other [[carboxylic acid]]s. Because of its high acidity, solutions in alcohols form esters spontaneously; in [[Fischer esterification]]s of formic acid, it self-catalyzes the reaction and no additional acid catalyst is needed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Furniss |first1=Brian S. |last2=Hannaford |first2=Antony, J. |last3=Smith |first3=Peter W. G. |last4=Tatchell |first4=Austin S. |edition=5th |year=1989 |title=Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry |publisher=Longman Scientific & Technical |page=696, 701 |isbn=978-0582462366}}</ref> Formic acid shares some of the [[redox|reducing]] properties of [[aldehyde]]s, reducing solutions of metal oxides to their respective metal.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ozawa|first1=Naoto|last2=Okubo|first2=Tatsuo|last3=Matsuda|first3=Jun|last4=Sakai|first4=Tatsuo|title=2016 11th International Microsystems, Packaging, Assembly and Circuits Technology Conference (IMPACT) |chapter=Observation and analysis of metal oxide reduction by formic acid for soldering |date=October 2016|chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7799990|pages=148–151|doi=10.1109/IMPACT.2016.7799990|isbn=978-1-5090-4769-7|s2cid=32545113}}</ref>

Formic acid is a source for a [[formyl]] group for example in the [[formylation]] of [[N-Methylaniline|''N''-methylaniline]] to ''N''-methylformanilide in [[toluene]].<ref>{{OrgSynth | title = ''N''-Methylformanilide | collvol = 3 | collvolpages = 590 | year = 1955 | prep = cv3p0590 | authorlink=Louis Fieser |author=L. F. Fieser |author2=J. E. Jones}}</ref>

In [[organic synthesis|synthetic organic chemistry]], formic acid is often used as a source of [[hydride]] ion, as in the [[Eschweiler–Clarke reaction]]:

[[Image:Eschweiler-Clarke Reaction.svg|center|300px|The Eschweiler–Clark reaction]]

It is used as a source of hydrogen in [[transfer hydrogenation]], as in the [[Leuckart reaction]] to make [[amine]]s, and (in aqueous solution or in its [[azeotrope]] with [[triethylamine]]) for hydrogenation of [[ketone]]s.<ref name="Zhou2012">{{cite journal | last=Zhou | first=Xiaowei | display-authors=etal | title=Varying the ratio of formic acid to triethylamine impacts on asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones | journal=Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical | volume=357 | year=2012 | issn=1381-1169 | doi=10.1016/j.molcata.2012.02.002 | pages=133–140}}</ref>

===Addition to alkenes===

Formic acid is unique among the carboxylic acids in its ability to participate in addition reactions with [[alkene]]s. Formic acids and alkenes readily react to form formate [[ester]]s. In the presence of certain acids, including [[sulfuric acid|sulfuric]] and [[hydrofluoric acid]]s, however, a variant of the [[Koch reaction]] occurs instead, and formic acid adds to the alkene to produce a larger carboxylic acid.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/cber.19660990410 |title=Die Synthese sekundärer Carbonsäuren nach der Ameisensäure-Methode |journal=Chemische Berichte |volume=99 |issue=4 |pages=1149–52 |year=1966 |last1=Haaf |first1=Wolfgang }}</ref>

===Formic acid anhydride===

An unstable [[formic anhydride]], H(C=O)−O−(C=O)H, can be obtained by dehydration of formic acid with [[N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide|''N'',''{{prime|N}}''-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide]] in ether at low temperature.<ref name=gwu>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/j100021a022 |title=Formic Anhydride in the Gas Phase, Studied by Electron Diffraction and Microwave and Infrared Spectroscopy, Supplemented with Ab-Initio Calculations of Geometries and Force Fields |journal=The Journal of Physical Chemistry |volume=99 |issue=21 |pages=8589–98 |year=1995 |last1=Wu |first1=G |last2=Shlykov |first2=S |last3=Van Alseny |first3=F. S |last4=Geise |first4=H. J |last5=Sluyts |first5=E |last6=Van Der Veken |first6=B. J }}</ref>

In 2009, the worldwide capacity for producing was 720 , roughly equally divided between Europe (350, mainly in Germany) and Asia (370, mainly in China) while production was below in all other continents.<ref name=CEH>{{cite web|url=http://www.sriconsulting.com/CEH/Public/Reports/659.2000/|title=CEH Marketing Research Report: FORMIC ACID|=S.N. Bizzari M. Blagoev|date= 2010|work=Chemical Economics Handbook|publisher=SRI consulting|= 2011}}</ref> It is commercially available in solutions of various concentrations between 85 and 99 w/w %.<ref name = Ullmann_2009/> As of2009, the largest producers are [[BASF]], [[]] and [[Feicheng Acid Chemicals]], with the largest production facilities in [[Ludwigshafen]] (200 , BASF, Germany), [[Oulu]] (105, , Finland) and [[Feicheng]] (100, Feicheng, China). 2010 ranged from /tonne in Western Europe $1250/tonne in the United States.<ref name=CEH/>

When [[methanol]] and [[carbon monoxide]] are combined in the presence of a strong [[Base (chemistry)|base]], the [[methyl formate]], according to the [[chemical equation]]:<ref name=Ullmann_2009/>

:CH₃OH + CO → HCO₂CH₃

In industry, this reaction is performed in the liquid phase at elevated pressure. Typical reaction conditions are 80°C and 40 atm. The most widelyused base is [[sodium methoxide]]. [[Hydrolysis]] of the methyl formate produces formic acid:

:HCO₂CH₃ + H₂O → + CH₃OH

Efficient hydrolysis of methyl formate requires a large excess of water. Some routes proceed indirectly by first treating the methyl formate with [[ammonia]] to give [[formamide]], which is then hydrolyzed with [[sulfuric acid]]:

:HCO₂CH₃ + NH₃ → HC(O)NH₂ + CH₃OH

:2 HC(O)NH₂ + ₂O + H₂SO₄ → 2HCO₂H + (NH₄)₂SO₄

the need to dispose of the [[ammonium sulfate]] byproduct. This problem has led some manufacturers to develop energyefficient separating formic acid from the excess water used in direct hydrolysis. In one of these processes used by [[BASF]] the formic acid is removed from the water [[liquid-liquid extraction]] with an organic base.

=== ===

====By-product of acetic acid production====

A significant amount of formic acid is produced as a byproduct in the manufacture of other chemicals. At one time, [[acetic acid]] was produced on a large scale by oxidation of [[alkane]]s, by a process that cogenerates significant formic acid.<ref name=Ullmann_2009/> This oxidative route to acetic acid has declined in importance so that the aforementioned dedicated routes to formic acid have become more important.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

===Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide===

The catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ has long been studied. This reaction can be conducted homogeneously.<ref>P. G. Jessop Handbook of Homogeneous Hydrogenation J. G. de Vries, C. J. Elsevier Wiley-VCH Weinheim, Germany 2007 489–511</ref><ref>{{cite journal |=..... |title=Recent advances in the homogeneous hydrogenation of carbon dioxide |journal= |volume=248 | =2425 |year = | = }}</ref>

=== ===

Formic acid can also be obtained by aqueous catalytic partial oxidation of wet biomass by the [[OxFA process]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1039/C1GC15434F |title=Selective catalytic conversion of biobased carbohydrates to formic acid using molecular oxygen |journal=Green Chemistry |volume=13 |issue=10 |pages=2759 |year=2011 |last1=Wölfel |first1=Rene |last2=Taccardi |first2=Nicola |last3=Bösmann |first3=Andreas |last4=Wasserscheid |first4=Peter |s2cid=97572039 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1039/C2EE21428H |title=Selective oxidation of complex, water-insoluble biomass to formic acid using additives as reaction accelerators |journal=Energy & Environmental Science |volume=5 |issue=7 |pages=7956 |year=2012 |last1=Albert |first1=Jakob |last2=Wölfel |first2=Rene |last3=Bösmann |first3=Andreas |last4=Wasserscheid |first4=Peter |s2cid=93224286 }}</ref> A [[Keggin structure|Keggin-type]] polyoxometalate (H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀) is used as the homogeneous catalyst to convert sugars, wood, waste paper, or cyanobacteria to formic acid and CO₂ as the sole byproduct. Yields of up to 53% formic acid can be achieved.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

====Laboratory methods====

In the laboratory, formic acid can be obtained by heating [[oxalic acid]] in [[glycerol]] and extraction by steam distillation.<ref name="chattaway">{{cite journal |doi=10.1039/CT9140500151 |title=XX.—Interaction of glycerol and oxalic acid |journal=[[Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions]] |volume=105 |pages=151–6 |year=1914 |last1=Chattaway |first1=Frederick Daniel |hdl=2027/mdp.39015067135775 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/2046509 }}</ref> Glycerol acts as a catalyst, as the reaction proceeds through a glyceryl oxalate intermediate. If the reaction mixture is heated to higher temperatures, [[allyl alcohol]] results. The net reaction is thus:

:C₂O₄H₂ → HCO₂H + CO₂<!--esoteric and not useful to anyone: Another preparation is the acid [[hydrolysis]] of ethyl isonitrile (C₂H₅NC) using [[hydrochloric acid|HCl]] solution.<ref name="cohen">{{Cite book | author = Cohen, Julius B. | title = Practical Organic Chemistry | publisher = MacMillan | date = 1930}}</ref>

:C₂H₅NC + 2 H₂O → C₂H₅NH₂ + HCO₂H

The isonitrile can be obtained by reacting [[ethyl amine]] with [[chloroform]] (note that the fume hood is required because of the overpoweringly objectionable odor of the [[isonitrile]]).-->

Another illustrative method involves the reaction between [[lead formate]] and [[hydrogen sulfide]], driven by the formation of [[lead sulfide]].<ref>{{Cite book | author = Arthur Sutcliffe | date = 1930 | title = Practical Chemistry for Advanced Students | edition = 1949 | publisher = John Murray | location = London}}</ref>

:Pb(HCOO)₂ + H₂S → 2HCOOH + PbS

====Electrochemical production====

It has been reported that formate can be formed by the [[electrochemical reduction]] of CO₂ (in the form of [[bicarbonate]]) at a [[lead]] [[cathode]] at pH 8.6:<ref>{{cite journal |display-authors=etal|last1=B. Innocent |title=Electro-reduction of carbon dioxide to formate on lead electrode in aqueous medium |journal=Journal of Applied Electrochemistry |date=Feb 2009 |doi=10.1007/s10800-008-9658-4 |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=227–232|s2cid=98437382 }}</ref>

:{{chem|HCO|3|-}} + {{chem|H|2|O}} + 2e⁻ → {{chem|HCO|2|-}} + 2{{Chem|OH|-}}

or

:{{chem|CO|2}} + {{chem|H|2|O}} + 2e⁻ → {{chem|HCO|2|-}} + {{Chem|OH|-}}

If the feed is {{chem|CO|2}} and oxygen is evolved at the anode, the total reaction is:

:{{CO2}} + {{chem|OH|-}} → {{chem|HCO|2|-}} + 1/2 {{O2}}

=== Artificial photosynthesis ===

In August 2020, researchers at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] announced a stand-alone advanced 'photosheet' technology that converts sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and formic acid with no other inputs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sampson |first=Joanna |date=2 August 2020 |title=Wireless device makes clean fuel from sunlight, CO2 and water |url=https://www.gasworld.com/wireless-device-makes-clean-fuel-from-sunlight-co2-and-water-/2019694.article |access-date=2020-08-26 |website=Gasworld |language=en}}</ref>

======

Formic acid is named after ants which have high concentrations of the compound in their venom, derived from [[serine]] through a [[5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate]] intermediate.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hefetz|first1=Abraham|last2=Blum|first2=Murray|title=Biosynthesis of formic acid by the poison glands of formicine ants|journal=Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects|date=1 November 1978|volume=543|issue=4|pages=484–496|doi=10.1016/0304-4165(78)90303-3|pmid=718985}}</ref> The conjugate base of formic acid, formate, also occurs widely in nature. An [[assay]] for formic acid in body fluids, designed for determination of formate after methanol poisoning, is based on the reaction of formate with bacterial [[formate dehydrogenase]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/0006-2944(75)90147-7 |pmid=1 |title=Formate assay in body fluids: Application in methanol poisoning |journal=Biochemical Medicine |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=117–26 |year=1975 |last1=Makar |first1=A.B |last2=McMartin |first2=K.E |last3=Palese |first3=M |last4=Tephly |first4=T.R }}</ref>

== Uses ==

===Agriculture===

A major use of formic acid is as [[preservative]] and [[bacteria|antibacterial]] agent in livestock feed. It. arrests certain decay processes and causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer,

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.<ref name = Ullmann_2009/> It is widely used to preserve winter feed for [[cattle]],<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=7IrGwQTt1aMC&dq=formic+acid++winter+feed+for+cattle&pg=PA31 Organic Acids and Food Preservation], Maria M. Theron, J. F. Rykers Lues</ref> and is sometimes added to [[poultry]] feed to kill ''[[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]'' bacteria.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/japr/14.4.750 |title=Alternatives to Antibiotics for Organic Poultry Production |journal=The Journal of Applied Poultry Research |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=750 |year=2005 |last1=Griggs |first1=J. P |last2=Jacob |first2=J. P |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.3382/japr.2006-00116 |title=Effect of Formic Acid and Plant Extracts on Growth, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestine Mucosa Morphology, and Meat Yield of Broilers |journal=The Journal of Applied Poultry Research |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=555 |year=2007 |last1=Garcia |first1=V |last2=Catala-Gregori |first2=P |last3=Hernandez |first3=F |last4=Megias |first4=M. D |last5=Madrid |first5=J |doi-access=free }}</ref> Use as a preservative for silage and other animal feed constituted 30% of the global consumption in 2009.<ref name=CEH/>

[[Beekeeper]]s use formic acid as a [[miticide]] against the tracheal mite (''[[Acarapis woodi]]'') and the [[Varroa destructor|''Varroa destructor'' mite]] and [[Varroa jacobsoni|''Varroa jacobsoni'' mite]].<ref>{{cite journal |author= Hoppe, H. |author2=Ritter, W. |author3=Stephen, E. W. C.|year= 1989 |title= The control of parasitic bee mites: Varroa jacobsoni, Acarapis woodi and Tropilaelaps clareae with formic acid |journal= American Bee Journal}}</ref>

======

Formic acid can be used directly in [[formic acid fuel cell]]s or indirectly in hydrogen [[fuel cell]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.12.031 |title=Performance characterization of Pd/C nanocatalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells |journal=Journal of Power Sources |volume=144 |issue=1 |pages=28–34 |year=2005 |last1=Ha |first1=S |last2=Larsen |first2=R |last3=Masel |first3=R.I |bibcode=2005JPS...144...28H }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ant power: Take a ride on a bus that runs on formic acid |author=Jorn Madslien |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40403351 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=27 June 2017 |access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>

Electrolytic conversion of electrical energy to chemical fuel has been proposed as a large-scale source of formate by various groups.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Yishai|first1=Oren|last2=Lindner|first2=Steffen N|last3=Gonzalez de la Cruz|first3=Jorge|last4=Tenenboim|first4=Hezi|last5=Bar-Even|first5=Arren|date=December 2016|title=The formate bio-economy|journal=Current Opinion in Chemical Biology|language=en|volume=35|pages=1–9|doi=10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.07.005|pmid=27459678}}</ref> The formate could be used as feed to modified ''[[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]'' bacteria for producing [[biomass]].<ref>{{cite journal |display-authors=etal|last1=Shmuel Gleizer |title=Conversion of ''Escherichia coli'' to Generate All Biomass Carbon from CO₂ |journal=Cell |date=Nov 2019 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.009 |volume=179 |issue=6 |pages=1255–1263.e12|pmid=31778652 |doi-access=free |pmc=6904909 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=Seohyoung|last2=Lindner|first2=Steffen N.|last3=Aslan|first3=Selçuk|last4=Yishai|first4=Oren|last5=Wenk|first5=Sebastian|last6=Schann|first6=Karin|last7=Bar-Even|first7=Arren|date=2020-02-10|title=Growth of E. coli on formate and methanol via the reductive glycine pathway|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-020-0473-5|journal=Nature Chemical Biology|language=en|pages=538–545|doi=10.1038/s41589-020-0473-5|issn=1552-4469|volume=16|issue=5|pmid=32042198|s2cid=211074951}}</ref> Natural [[methylotroph]] microbes can feed on formic acid or formate.

Formic acid has been considered as a means of [[hydrogen storage]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/cssc.200800133 |pmid=18781551 |title=Breakthroughs in Hydrogen Storage-Formic Acid as a Sustainable Storage Material for Hydrogen |journal=ChemSusChem |volume=1 |issue=10 |pages=805–8 |year=2008 |last1=Joó |first1=Ferenc }}</ref> The co-product of this decomposition, carbon dioxide, can be rehydrogenated back to formic acid in a second step. Formic acid contains 53 g/L hydrogen at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which is three and a half times as much as compressed hydrogen gas can attain at 350 bar pressure (14.7 g/L). Pure formic acid is a liquid with a [[flash point]] of 69&nbsp;°C, much higher than that of gasoline (−40&nbsp;°C) or ethanol (13&nbsp;°C).{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

It is possible to use formic acid as an intermediary to produce [[isobutanol]] from {{CO2}} using microbes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2012/03/30/ucla-researchers-use-electricity-and-co2-to-make-butanol/|title=UCLA Researchers Use Electricity and CO2 to Make Butanol|date=30 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Integrated Electromicrobial Conversion of CO2 to Higher Alcohols|first1=James C.|last1=Liao|first2=Kwang Myung|last2=Cho|first3=Yi-Xin|last3=Huo|first4=Peter|last4=Malati|first5=Wendy|last5=Higashide|first6=Tung-Yun|last6=Wu|first7=Steve|last7=Rogers|first8=David G.|last8=Wernick|first9=Paul H.|last9=Opgenorth|first10=Han|last10=Li|date=30 March 2012|journal=Science|volume=335|issue=6076|pages=1596|doi=10.1126/science.1217643|pmid=22461604|bibcode=2012Sci...335.1596L|s2cid=24328552}}</ref>

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Formic acid has a potential application in [[soldering]]. Due to its capacity to reduce oxide layers, formic acid gas can be blasted at an oxide surface to increase solder [[Soldering#Flux|wettability]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}

===Chromatography===

Formic acid is used as a volatile pH modifier in [[High-performance liquid chromatography|HPLC]] and [[capillary electrophoresis]]. Formic acid is often used as a component of mobile phase in [[Reversed-phase chromatography|reversed-phase]] [[high-performance liquid chromatography]] (RP-HPLC) analysis and separation techniques for the separation of hydrophobic macromolecules, such as peptides, proteins and more complex structures including intact viruses. Especially when paired with [[mass spectrometry]] detection, formic acid offers several advantages over the more traditionally used [[phosphoric acid]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48192 |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 November 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112257/https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48192 |url-status=dead }}{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0021-9673(01)88415-6 |pmid=6304128 |title=Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of virus proteins and other large hydrophobic proteins in formic acid containing solvents |journal=Journal of Chromatography A |volume=252 |pages=241–54 |year=1982 |last1=Heukeshoven |first1=Jochen |last2=Dernick |first2=Rudolf }}</ref>

===Other uses===

Formic acid is also significantly used in the production of leather, including [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]] (23% of the global consumption in 2009<ref name=CEH/>), and in dyeing and finishing textiles (9% of the global consumption in 2009<ref name=CEH/>) because of its acidic nature. Use as a coagulant in the [[production of rubber]]<ref name = Ullmann_2009/> consumed 6% of the global production in 2009.<ref name=CEH/>

Formic acid is also used in place of mineral acids for various cleaning products,<ref name =Ullmann_2009/> such as [[limescale]] remover and [[household cleaner|toilet bowl cleaner]]. Some formate [[esters]] are artificial flavorings and perfumes.

Formic acid application has been reported to be an effective treatment for [[wart]]s.<ref name="pmid11589750">{{cite journal |doi=10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01242.x |pmid=11589750 |title=Topical formic acid puncture technique for the treatment of common warts |journal=International Journal of Dermatology |volume=40 |issue=6 |pages=415–9 |year=2001 |last1=Bhat |first1=Ramesh M |last2=Vidya |first2=Krishna |last3=Kamath |first3=Ganesh |s2cid=42351889 }}</ref>

Formic acid has low toxicity (hence its use as a food additive), with an {{LD50}} of 1.8{{nbsp}}g/kg (tested orally on mice). The concentrated acid is corrosive to the skin.<ref name=Ullmann_2009/>

Formic acid is readily metabolized and eliminated by the body. Nonetheless, it has specific [[toxic]] effects; the formic acid and [[formaldehyde]] produced as metabolites of [[methanol]] are responsible for the [[optic nerve]] damage, causing blindness seen in methanol poisoning.<ref>{{cite |=/....|title= |= , |= }}</ref> Some chronic effects of formic acid exposure have been documented. Some experiments on bacterial species have demonstrated it to be a [[mutagen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/formicacid/recognition.html|title=Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Formic =OSHA|=28 May 2011 |url=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/formicacid/recognition.html|= <ref> Another effect of chronic exposure is development of a skin [[allergy]] that manifests upon re-exposure to the chemical.

Concentrated formic acid slowly decomposes to carbon monoxide and water, leading to pressure buildup in the . For this reason, 98% formic acid is shipped in plastic bottles with self-venting caps.

The hazards of solutions of formic acid depend on the concentration. The following table lists the [[ ]] formic acid solutions:

! Pictogram

! [[List of -phrases|-Phrases]]

| %

| {{GHS07}}

| {{}}

| 10–90%

| {{GHS05}}

| {{}}

| {{GHS05}}

| {{}}

Formic acid in 85% concentration is flammable, and diluted formic acid is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration list of food additives.<ref>{{CodeFedReg|21|186|1316}}, {{CodeFedReg|21|172|515}}</ref> The principal danger from formic acid is from skin or eye contact with the concentrated liquid or vapors. The U.S. [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA]] Permissible Exposure Level ([[Permissible exposure limit|PEL]]) of formic acid vapor in the work environment is 5 [[parts per million]] (ppm) of air.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

* [[Alternative fuel vehicle#Formic acid|Formic acid vehicle]]

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{EB1911 poster|Formic Acid}}

* [://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0296.html NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards].

{{Molecules detected in outer space}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Formates]]

[[Category: acids]]

[[Category:Organic compounds with 1 carbon atom]]