Product Description of Formic Acid CAS#64-18-6
Formic acid is an important chemical raw material, first discovered by Fisher in 1670, and later produced in pure form by A. S. Marggret in 1749.
It was initially identified through the distillation of red ants, which is also the origin of its name. Formic acid is widely distributed in nature and can be found in the secretions of red ants, bees, and caterpillars, as well as in the leaves, roots, and fruits of plants.
As the simplest carboxylic acid, formic acid has a unique molecular structure and exhibits stronger acidity compared with other fatty carboxylic acids. It is a colorless, transparent, pungent, and fuming liquid with the molecular formula HCOOH and a relative molecular mass of 46.03.
Its key physical properties include a relative density of 1.2196, melting point of 8.4°C, freezing point of 7°C, and boiling point of 100.7°C (or 50°C at 15.999×10³ Pa). It has a refractive index of 1.3714, flash point of 68.9°C, viscosity of 1.784 mPa·s, and ignition point of 410°C.
Formic acid is miscible with water, ethanol, ether, and other solvents, and forms a high-boiling binary azeotrope with water, containing 77.5% formic acid with an azeotropic point of 107.3°C, which is higher than the boiling points of both pure water and pure formic acid.
Structurally, the carbonyl group is directly bonded to hydrogen, giving formic acid both acidic properties and partial aldehyde-like characteristics.
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Formic acid Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 8.2-8.4 °C (lit.) |
| Boiling point | 100-101 °C (lit.) |
| density | 1.22 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.) |
| vapor density | 1.03 (vs air) |
| vapor pressure | 52 mm Hg ( 37 °C) |
| refractive index | n20/D 1.377 |
| FEMA | 2487 | FORMIC ACID |
| Fp | 133 °F |
| storage temp. | 2-8°C |
| solubility | H2O: soluble1g/10 mL, clear, colorless |
| pka | 3.75(at 20℃) |
| form | Liquid |
| Specific Gravity | 1.216 (20℃/20℃) |
| color | APHA: ≤15 |
| PH | 3.47(1 mM solution);2.91(10 mM solution);2.38(100 mM solution); |
| Odor | at 0.10 % in water. pungent vinegar formyl |
| Odor Type | acetic |
| explosive limit | 12-38%(V) |
| Water Solubility | MISCIBLE |
| Sensitive | Hygroscopic |
| λmax | λ: 260 nm Amax: 0.03 |
| λ: 280 nm Amax: 0.01 |
| Merck | 144241 |
| JECFA Number | 79 |
| BRN | 1209246 |
| Henry's Law Constant | At 25 °C: 95.2, 75.1, 39.3, 10.7, and 3.17 at pH values of 1.35, 3.09, 4.05, 4.99, and 6.21, respectively (Hakuta et al., 1977) |
| Dielectric constant | 58.0（16℃） |
| Exposure limits | TLV-TWA 5 ppm (～9 mg/m3) (ACGIH, MSHA, OSHA, and NIOSH); IDLH 100 ppm (180 mg/m3) (NIOSH). |
| Stability: | Stable. Substances to be avoided include strong bases, strong oxidizing agents and powdered metals, furfuryl alcohol. Combustible. Hygroscopic. Pressure may build up in tightly closed bottles, so bottles should be opened carefully and vented periodically. |
| InChIKey | BDAGIHXWWSANSR-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| LogP | -0.54 |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 64-18-6(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Formic acid(64-18-6) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Formic acid (64-18-6) |
Safety Information
| Hazard Codes | T,C,Xi |
| Risk Statements | 23/24/25-34-40-43-35-36/38-10 |
| Safety Statements | 36/37-45-26-23-36/37/39 |
| RIDADR | UN 1198 3/PG 3 |
| WGK Germany | 2 |
| RTECS | LP8925000 |
| F | 10 |
| Autoignition Temperature | 1004 °F |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HazardClass | 8 |
| PackingGroup | II |
| HS Code | 29151100 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 64-18-6(Hazardous Substances Data) |
| Toxicity | LD50 in mice (mg/kg): 1100 orally; 145 i.v. (Malorny) |
| IDLA | 30 ppm |
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Product Application of Formic Acid CAS#64-18-6
Formic acid is a fundamental organic chemical raw material widely used across multiple industries, including pesticides, leather processing, textiles, printing and dyeing, pharmaceuticals, and rubber production. It is also utilized in the manufacture of various solvents, plasticizers, rubber coagulants, animal feed additives, as well as in new synthetic processes such as insulin production.
In China’s consumption structure, the pharmaceutical industry accounts for approximately 45%, the chemical industry about 30%, while other sectors such as light industry and textiles represent around 25%. Formic acid is also an important export-oriented chemical product, and current domestic production mainly adopts the sodium formate process.
Formic acid is commonly used as a cost-effective alternative to inorganic acids, offering lower volatility and reduced corrosiveness, making it widely applicable in the light industry.
In the textile and printing/dyeing industries, it is used to neutralize nitrogen oxides generated in sodium nitrite-based indigo dyeing processes. It also serves as an auxiliary agent for weak acid dyes and neutral complex dyes, and is used in the dyeing of nylon with reactive dyes.
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