Formic acid is an irritating chemical present in the sprayed venom of some ant species and in the secretion released from some stinging nettles. It's dangerous at high concentrations, but at low concentrations it's very useful. Humans use formic acid as a food preservative, since it's an antibacterial substance. It’s also used to treat pests, to produce food and cosmetic additives, and to help a variety of industrial processes to occur.
Our bodies make small quantities of formic acid from the methanol that we ingest, inhale, or produce. Some of the methanol produced in the body is made from aspartame. The body converts aspartame into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The methanol is then converted into formic acid. Researchers say that the formic acid in our body is generally too dilute to be dangerous, however.
Chemical Structure and Properties:
Formic acid is the simplest member of the carboxylic acid family. It's also known as mechanic acid. The chemical's molecular formula is HCOOH. The molecule is composed of a carboxyl group (COOH) with a hydrogen atom attached. In the carboxyl group, the carbon atom has a double bond joining it to the oxygen atom and a single bond joining it to the hydroxyl (OH) group.
Formic acid can be made synthetically in laboratories. In nature it usually exists in the form of a colorless liquid. This liquid freezes at 8.3 degrees Celsius (46.9 degrees Fahrenheit) and boils at 100.7 degrees Celsius. It has a strong odor and is often described as having a "pungent" smell.
Formic Acid in Ants:
Formic acid got its name from “Formica”, the Latin name for ant. An English naturalist named John Ray was the first person to isolate an acid from ants. In 1671 he distilled the crushed bodies of dead ants to extract the acid, which was eventually named formic acid.
Ants bite to protect themselves or to attack other creatures. They grab hold of their victim with their mandibles (jaws). Some ant species then sting the victim. The stinger is located at the tip of the abdomen and injects a toxic secretion. Instead of stinging, certain species of ants release a spray of venom from the end of their abdomens. This venom contains formic acid. Some ants bite but do not sting or spray toxic chemicals.
Dubichem chemicals international is a leading supplier, manufacturer and exporter of Formic acid in Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dubai, Sharjha, Fujairah, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Iraq, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Lebanon, Greece, India, Sudan, Ghana, Madagascar, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, at Dubichem@gmail.com and for more related products visit www.dubichem.com.
