Formic acid

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Formic acid

Formic acid (systematically name: methane acid) HCOOH — organic compound, the first representative in the series of saturated monobasic carboxylic acids. Registered as food additive under the designation E236. The name formic acid was because it was first dedicated in 1670, the English naturalist John Ray of red wood ants. In nature also found in bees, nettles, pine needles. The salts and anions of formic acid are referred to as formates.

Under normal conditions formic acid is a colorless sharp-smelling liquid. Soluble in acetone, benzene, glycerine, toluene. Mixed with water, diethyl ether, ethanol.

Constant dissociation: 1,772 × 10-4.

Formic acid, also acid properties, shows also some properties of aldehydes, particular, recovery. While it is oxidized to carbon dioxide.

Danger formic acid depends on the concentration. According to the classification of the European Union, concentration up to 10% has an irritant effect, more 10 % — corrosive.

Upon contact with skin 100% liquid formic acid causes severe chemical burns. Getting even a small amount on the skin causes severe pain, the affected area first turns white, as if covered with frost, then it becomes similar to wax around it appears red border. Acid easily penetrates through the fat layer of the skin, so wash the affected area with soda solution necessary to produce immediately. Contact with concentrated vapors formic acid may cause damage to the eyes and respiratory tract. Accidental ingestion of even dilute solutions cause phenomena severe necrotizing gastroenteritis.

Formic acid is rapidly metabolized and excreted body. However, formic acid and formaldehyde formed during poisoning with methanol cause damage to the optic nerve and lead to blindness.

In large quantities of formic acid formed as a by-product of liquid-phase oxidation of butane , and light gasoline fractions in the production of acetic acid. Formic acid is also obtained by the hydrolysis of formamide (~35% of the total world production); the process consists of several stages: the carbonylation of methanol, the interaction of methylformate with anhydrous NH3 and subsequent hydrolysis of the resulting formamide 75% H2SO4. Sometimes use direct hydrolysis of methylformate (the reaction is carried out in excess water or in the presence of a tertiary amine), hydration WITH in the presence of alkali (acid isolated salt by the action of H2SO4), the dehydrogenation CH3OH in the vapor phase in the presence of catalystscontaining Cu and Zr, Zn, Cr, Mn, Mg etc. (the method has no industrial value).

Basically, formic acid is used as preservative and antibacterial agent in the workpiece feed. Formic acid slows down the processes of decay and disintegration, therefore, hay and silage, formic acid treated, lasts longer. Formic acid is also used in mordant dyeing of wool, to fight parasites in beekeeping, as a solvent in some chemical reactions.

In laboratories using the decomposition of liquid formic acid under the action of hot concentrated sulfuric acidor formic flowing acid on the oxide of phosphorus, P2O5, to obtain carbon monoxide.

In medicine used for the preparation of solutions permorming acid("pervomur", or the formula C-4(a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid)). Pervomur used in surgery as a preoperative antiseptic the tools in the pharmaceutical industry for disinfection of equipment.

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