Formic Acid

an important substance in organic chemistry. It is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the atomic proportions of one, two, and two. It is found in a natural state in ants, caterpillars, leaves of fir, and pine trees, and in the common nettle. It occurs also in certain fruits. The acid may be obtained on a small scale by crushing the bodies of red ants and distilling the mass with water. It is obtained in commercial quantities by heating crystals of oxalic acid with glycerine and distilling the product. Pure formic acid is used in small quantities for medicinal purposes. It is a disinfectant and a preservative. It is used, also, in the manufacture of fruit essences. The acid is used largely in the dyeing and tanning trades, for which purposes it has displaced acetic acid in part. Used to dye silks, it produces a beautiful sheen. It gives mercerized cotton the rustling effect of silk.