formic acid
A colorless, volatile, weak organic acid (H
2 CO 2 ). It occurs
naturally, e.g., in ants, the fruit of the
soaptree, etc., and is also formed as a byproduct
in the atmospheric oxidation of turpentine. The
principal commercial source is sodium formate,
which is prepared by the reaction of carbon
monoxide and sodium hydroxide under pressure and
heat. Formic acid is used in leather manufacture
to control pH, as well as in the acid dyeing of
some leathers; in the latter case, causing the dye
to fix on the leather. (306 )
![[CoOL]](/icons/sm_cool.gif){kind=icon}