What is formic acid?

Formic acid is a kind of carboxylic acid Although its systematic name in the International Union of pure and applied chemistry is "metallic acid", its historical name is still the most commonly used The chemical formula of formic acid is HCOOH or hco2h, and its natural form is colorless liquid with strong smell This acid is naturally produced in the venom of spiny insects (especially ants), so formic acid is sometimes called formic acid Some ant species with ovipositor have evolved into stingers that release pain stimulating venom Other species have evolved to produce formic acid by ejecting fluids from venom sacs to invaders Jets can cause pain or burning and can leave scars on humans Renaissance naturalists have found that ant mounds release acid vapor, but it was not until the 17th century that research explained the cause of this phenomenon In 1671, when John Ray, a British naturalist, was looking for the origin of the acid, he collected a large number of dead ants and distilled their bodies to produce a liquid The liquid was proved to be an acid, so ray was named after formic acid French chemist Joseph Louis guy lusack was the first man to synthesize formic acid The modern synthetic form based on carbon monoxide was invented in 1855 by another French chemist, marcelan bertolo At the time of its invention, the industrial application of formic acid was very limited However, since the middle of the 20th century, it has been widely used and plays an important role in modern agriculture and industry, as well as leather production In Europe, farmers use it for livestock feed to preserve nutritional value and kill certain types of bacteria Beekeepers use products containing the compound to kill mites that parasitize the hive Some cleaning products are also produced with formic acid, especially for hard surface cleaning products, such as scale remover and toilet cleaner Formic acid is dangerous in industrial or laboratory operations It is corrosive and flammable, but the risk of concentration combustion of most commercial products is small It also irritates the eyes and skin, so workers need to wear protective glasses and reduce skin contact Inhalation of gas can cause damage to the respiratory system and optic nerve.