PRODUCT APPLICATION

Formic acid, also called (methanoic acid), is  the simplest and has the lowest mole weight of the carboxylic acids, in which a single hydrogen atom is attached to the carboxyl group (HCOOH). If a methyl group is attached to the carboxyl group, the compound is acetic acid. It occurs naturally in the body of ants and in the stingers of bees. Functionally, it is not only an acid but also an aldehyde; it reacts with alcohols to form esters as an acid and it is easily oxidized which imparts some of the character of an aldehyde. Pure formic acid is a colorless, toxic, corrosive and fuming liquid, freezing at 8.4 C and boiling at 100.7 C. It is soluble in water, ether, and alcohol. It irritates the mucous membranes and blisters the skin. It is prepared commercially from sodium formate with the reaction of condensed sulfuric acid. Formic acid is used as a chemical intermediate and solvent, and as a disinfectant. It is also in processing textiles and leathers, electroplating and coagulating latex rubber.

It is used for decalcifier; reducer in dyeing for wool fast colours; dehairing and plumping hides; tanning; electroplating; coagulating rubber latex; silage and grain preservation; aidditive in regenerating old rubber; solvents of perfume; lacquers;  alkylating agent for alcohols; carboxylating agent for tertiary compounds. It is also used as an intermediate for the production of a wide variety of products in the chemicals and pharmaceutical industries.

Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its formula is HCOOH or CH2O2. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most famously in the venom of bee and ant stings.
In nature, it is found in the stings and bites of many insects of the order Hymenoptera, mainly ants. It is also a significant combustion product resulting from alternative fueled vehicles burning methanol (and ethanol, if contaminated with water) when mixed with gasoline. Its name comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. A chemical compound such as a salt from the neutralization of formic acid with a base, or an ester derived from formic acid, is referred to as formate (or methanoate). The formate ion has the formula HCOO−.

In synthetic organic chemistry, formic acid is often used as a source of hydride ion. The Eschweiler-Clarke reaction and the Leuckart-Wallach reaction are examples of this application. It is also used as a source of hydrogen in transfer hydrogenation.In the laboratory formic acid is also used as source for carbon monoxide, which is set free by the addition of sulfuric acid. Formic acid is also a source for a formyl group for example in the formylation of metylaniline to N-methylformanilide in toluene.Fuel cells that use modified formic acid are promising.