The chemical name of HCOOH is formic acid, also known as formic acid, which is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its molecular formula is CH2O2 and its molecular weight is 4603, the structural formula is HCOOH, and the schematic formula is H-C(=O)-OH. It is a colorless and pungent odor liquid, volatile, weakly acidic and reducing, can react with many substances, is an important raw material and intermediate of organic chemicals, and is also a metabolite in living organisms.
HCOOH is one of the first organic acids to be discovered and utilized by humans. As early as the beginning of the 15th century, some European naturalists and alchemists noticed the acidic gases emitted from the anthills, but did not study them further. It wasn't until 1671 that the English naturalist John Ray first isolated HCOOH by distilling a large number of dead ants, and named it formic acid, because the Latin word for ant is formica.
Later, HCOOH was found to be present in the secretions of bees, caterpillars and other animals, as well as in the sap of certain plants. At the end of the 18th century, French chemists L**Oisier and Gay-Lussac began the chemical research of HCOOH, determining its molecular formula and structure, as well as its reaction with other substances.
In the middle of the 19th century, German chemists Berthelot and Godeffroy-Schmidt and others respectively invented the method of preparing HCOOH from carbon monoxide and sodium hydroxide, oxalic acid and glycerol and other raw materials, laying the foundation for the industrial production of HCOOH. Since the 20th century, with the development of organic chemistry, HCOOH synthesis methods and application fields have been expanding, and it has become an important organic compound.
The physicochemical properties of HCOOH are mainly affected by its molecular structure and electron distribution. The molecular structure of HCOOH is composed of a carbon atom linking a carboxyl group (-COOH) and a hydrogen atom, which can be seen as either the simplest carboxylic acid or a hydroxyl substituted formaldehyde. Therefore, HCOOH has some of the following characteristics:
- SolubilityHCOOH can be arbitrarily miscible with polar solvents such as water, ethanol, ether and glycerin, and can also be miscible with non-polar solvents such as benzene to a certain extent. This is because the molecule of HCOOH contains a polar carboxyl group, which can form hydrogen bonds with polar solvents such as water, and also contains non-polar carbon-hydrogen bonds, which can form van der Waals forces with non-polar solvents such as hydrocarbons.
- Acidic: HCOOH is a single weak acid, which is stronger than other carboxylic acids in the same series, such as acetic acid, propionic acid, etc. This is because there is no hydrocarbon group in the molecule of HCOOH, and the electron repulsion of the hydrocarbon group will weaken the electron attraction of the carboxyl group, making the electron density of the carboxyl carbon atom decrease, and the electrons on the carboxyl oxygen atom are more biased towards the carbon atom, thus reducing the stability of the carboxyl anion and enhancing the acidity. The acid dissociation constant (pka) of HCOOH is 3The pH of 75,1% HCOOH solution is 22。
- ReductivenessHCOOH has a certain reducibility, it can redox reaction with strong oxidants such as potassium permanganate, silver ammonia solution, etc., so that the potassium permanganate solution fades, carbon dioxide and water are generated, and the silver ammonia solution is formed into metallic silver to form a silver mirror. This is because HCOOH contains a hydroxyl group in its molecule, making it easier for the electrons on the carboxyl carbon atom to be taken away by oxidants, thus causing HCOOH to lose an electron and become carbon monoxide.
- Thermal stability: HCOOH has poor thermal stability, and it is easily decomposed into carbon monoxide and water when heated or catalyzed by strong acids. This is because the molecule of HCOOH contains a hydroxyl group, which makes it easier for the electrons on the carboxyl carbon atom to be taken away by the protons of water or acid, so that HCOOH loses a proton and becomes a formate ion, which in turn further decomposes into carbon monoxide and oxygen atoms, which then combine with the protons of water or acid to form water.
- Additionality: HCOOH has a certain addition, it can undergo addition reaction with olefins under the action of acid to form formate. This is because the molecule of HCOOH contains a hydroxyl group, which makes it easier for the electrons on the carboxyl carbon atom to be taken away by the double bond of the alkene, so that HCOOH loses a hydroxyl group and becomes a formyl group, which is then combined with the double bond of the olefin to form formate.
There are many preparation methods for HCOOH, which can be divided into laboratory method and industrial method. The laboratory method is mainly through the hydrolysis of oxalic acid or isoacetonitrile to obtain HCOOH, and the industrial method is mainly through the sodium formate method, methyl formate method or formamide method to obtain HCOOH. Here are some common preparation methods:
- Laboratory:
- Oxalic acid method:Oxalic acid is heated in anhydrous glycerol to decompose into HCOOH and carbon monoxide, and HCOOH is then separated by steam distillation. The reaction equation is: H2C2O4 HCOOH + CO
- Isoacetonitrile method: Under the catalysis of dilute sulfuric acid, isoacetonitrile is hydrolyzed into HCOOH and ethylamine, and then neutralized with alkaline solution, and then HCOOH is separated by steam distillation. The reaction equation is: CH3CN + 2H2O HCOOH + CH3NH2
- Industrial Method:
Sodium formate method: under high temperature and high pressure, carbon monoxide and sodium hydroxide are reacted to generate sodium formate, which is then acidified with concentrated sulfuric acid, and then separated by steam distillation to extract HCOOH. The reaction equation is: CO + Naoh HCOONA;hcoona + h2so4 → hcooh + na2so4
- Methyl formate method: Under high temperature and high pressure, carbon monoxide and methanol are reacted to form methyl formate, which is then hydrolyzed with water and then separated by steam distillation to extract HCOOH. The reaction equation is: CO + CH3OH HCOOCH3;hcooch3 + h2o → hcooh + ch3oh
- Formamide method: Under high temperature and pressure, carbon monoxide and ammonia are reacted to form formamide, which is then hydrolyzed with water, and then separated by steam distillation to produce HCOOH. The reaction equation is: CO + NH3 HCONH2;hconh2 + h2o → hcooh + nh3
HCOOH is an important organic chemical raw material and intermediate, and it has a wide range of uses in many fields, such as:
- In the dye, pharmaceutical, pesticide, synthetic resin, rubber, plastic and other industriesHCOOH can be used as a raw material or catalyst for the synthesis of various organic compounds, such as formate, formate, formamide, formyl chloride, formylformic acid, formylbenzene, formylaniline, formylphenol, formylbenzoic acid, etc.
- In the textile, paper, leather, tanning, etcHCOOH can be used as bleaching agent, preservative, tanning agent, dyeing auxiliary, hair remover, grease remover, etc., to improve the quality and efficiency of products.
- In the food, feed, cosmetics and other industriesHCOOH can be used as a preservative, acidulant, flavor enhancer, antibacterial agent, nutrient, etc., to increase the shelf life and flavor of the product.
- In metallurgy, electroplating, batteries, etcHCOOH can be used as a reducing agent, compounding agent, activator, cleaning agent, rust remover, etc., to improve the performance and appearance of products.
- In the environmental protection, biology and other industriesHCOOH can be used as a deodorant, degrader, biofuel, etc., reducing pollution and energy consumption.
The chemical name of HCOOH is formic acid, also known as formic acid, which is the simplest carboxylic acid.
Its molecular formula is CH2O2 and its molecular weight is 4603, the structural formula is HCOOH, and the schematic formula is H-C(=O)-OH. It is a colorless and pungent odor liquid, volatile, weakly acidic and reducing, can react with many substances, is an important raw material and intermediate of organic chemicals, and is also a metabolite in living organisms.
The history of HCOOH can be traced back to the beginning of the 15th century, it was first isolated from ants, and later found to exist in other animals and plants, the chemical research of HCOOH began at the end of the 18th century, the industrial production of HCOOH began in the mid-19th century, and since the 20th century, the synthesis method and application field of HCOOH have been continuously expanded, becoming an important organic compound.
The physical and chemical properties of HCOOH are mainly affected by its molecular structure and electronic distribution, it has the characteristics of solubility, acidity, reduction, thermal stability and addition, and it can react with water, ethanol, ether, glycerol, benzene, potassium permanganate, silver ammonia solution, olefins and other substances.
There are many preparation methods for HCOOH, which can be divided into laboratory method and industrial method, the laboratory method is mainly through the hydrolysis of oxalic acid or isoacetonitrile to obtain HCOOH, and the industrial method is mainly through sodium formate method, methyl formate method or formamide method to obtain HCOOH.
HCOOH has many uses, it has a wide range of applications in dyes, medicine, pesticides, synthetic resins, rubber, plastics, textiles, papermaking, leather, tanning, food, feed, cosmetics, metallurgy, electroplating, batteries, environmental protection, biology and other industries, it can be used as synthesis, catalysis, bleaching, antiseptic, tanning, dyeing, dehairing, degreasing, antiseptic, sour, flavoring, antibacterial, nutrition, reduction, compounding, activation, cleaning, rust removal, deodorization, degradation, biofuels and other raw materials or additives. Understanding and mastering the chemical name of HCOOH is of great significance and value to improve our chemical knowledge and skills.