Nomenclature
CAS number: 298-12-4
Oxoacetic acid; formylformic acid; glyoxalic acid; oxoethanoic acid.
C
2H
2O
3; mol wt 74.04.
C 32.44%, H 2.72%, O 64.83%.
OHCCOOH.
Description and references
Occurs in unripe fruit and in young green leaves;
has also been found in very young sugar beets. Prepd by heating dibromoacetic
acid with some water: Grimaux, Bull. Soc.
Chim. [2] 26, 483; Cramer, Ber. 25, 714 (1892); by electrolytic
reduction of oxalic acid: Meyer, Ber. 37, 3592 (1904); by the action of Aspergillus niger on calcium acetate, malonic or citric acid: Challenger et
al., J. Chem. Soc. 1927, 205, 207. Prepn of glyoxylic acid soln for analytical
use: Beilstein vol. III, 594.
Derivative
Hemihydrate.
Properties
Crystals from water, mp 70-75°. Also obtained in anhydr form as
monoclinic crystals from water, mp 98°. Obnoxious odor. Strong, corrosive acid. K = 4.6 ×
104. Deliquesces rapidly and forms a syrup on short exposure
to air. Sparingly sol in alc, ether, benzene. Freely sol in water;
aq solns tend to acquire a yellowish tint. Attacks most base metals
except certain stainless steel alloys.Derivative
Monohydrate.
Properties
Crystals, mp ≈50°. Highly hygroscopic.Caution
Irritant, corrosive.