Encyclopedia > Formic acid

Article Content

Formic acid

Formic acid (more correctly called methanoic acid) is the simplest organic acid. Its formula is H₂C O₂, or HCOOH, structurally as follows:

     H
    /
 O=C
    \
     O
    /
   H

It is found in the stings and bites of many Hymenoptera, including bees, ants, and stinging nettle[?]. It is named for the Latin for ant, formica. This refer to the first discovery in the distillation product of ants.

Its anhydride[?] is carbon monoxide.

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!

Featured Article

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

... protected many of the rights and freedoms that are protected under the Charter these were sometimes known as the Implied Bill of Rights. The Canadian Bill of Rights, ...