Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Formic acid; formate

Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Formic acid: The simplest carboxylic acid. Its molecular structure consists of a carboxyl group bonded to a hydrogen atom. IUPAC name: methan oic acid. Formic acid is a natural product, most notably in ant venom; hence its name from formica, Latin for ant.

Molecular Structure of Formic Acid


Lewis structure		Ball and spoke		Space-filling model


Sodium formate		Ethyl formate

The term formate can refer to the conjugate base of formic acid, or an ester derived from formic acid.

Related terms: Acetic acid, ethanoic acid, benzoic acid, salicyclic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, propanoic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, mesotartaric acid, racemic acid, meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, peracetic acid, acetoacetic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, amino acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, folic acid, formaldehyde, formamide, formyl group, hydroxyl group, carbonyl group
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