Nomenclature
CAS number: 64-18-6
Ameisensure (German).
CH
2O
2; mol wt 46.03.
C 26.09%, H 4.38%, O 69.52%.
HCOOH.
Description and references
Found in the bites and stings of various insects
including bees and ants; metabolite of methanol. Observed by S. Fisher
in 1670 in the products resulting from the distillation of ants.
Production: P. G. Jessop et al., Nature 368, 231 (1994). Acute and chronic
toxicity: G. Malorny, Z. Ernaehrungswiss. 9, 332 (1969). Review of metabolism and toxicology:
J. Liesivuori, H. Savolainen, Pharmacol.
Toxicol. 69, 157-163 (1991). Clinical trial
in treatment of warts: R. M. Bhat et al., Int. J. Dermatol. 40, 415 (2001).
Reviews: A. Aguilo, T. Horlenko, Hydrocarbon Process. Int. Ed. 59, 120-130
(1980); D. J. Drury in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia
of Chemical Technology vol. 11 (Wiley-Interscience,
New York, 4th ed., 1994) pp 951-958.
Properties
Colorless liquid; pungent odor. bp760 100.8°. mp 8.4°. d20 1.220. pKa (20°) 3.75. nD20 1.3714. Flash point, open
cup: 59°C.
Surface tension at 20°: 37.67 dyn/cm. Viscosity at 20°: 1.784 cP.
Dielectric constant at 20°: 57.9. Vapor pressure at 20°: 33.55
mm Hg. Heat of fusion: 3031 cal/mole; of vaporization at 100°:
104 cal/g. Azeotropic mixture with water: 77.5 wt% formic acid, bp760 107.3°. Corrosive. Strong reducing
agent. Misc with water, ether, acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol,
ethanol. Partially sol in benzene, toluene, xylenes. LD50 in mice (mg/kg): 1100 orally; 145 i.v. (Malorny).Derivative
Spirit of Formic Acid.
Nomenclature
Spirit of ants. Description and references
Composed of 40 ml of 25% formic acid and 225
ml water in sufficient alcohol to make one liter; corresponds to ≈1%
formic acid and ≈70% abs alcohol by vol.
Properties
Colorless liquid. Miscible with water, alcohol.Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are eye, skin, throat irritation; skin burns, dermatitis; lacrimation;
rhinorrhea; coughing and dyspnea; nausea. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH
97-140, 1997) p 148.Use
Preservative in foods and silage; acidulant in dyeing
of natural and synthetic fibers, leather tanning; coagulating latex
in rubber production; reagent in synthetic organic chemistry.
Therapeutic Category
Caustic.