You searched for: “formic acid
formic acid, methanoic acid
A colorless corrosive liquid compound with a penetrating odor, found in the bodies of ants and spiders, in the hairs and other parts of certain caterpillars, and in stinging nettles.

This substance as it occurs in living organisms produces the stinging sensation that results from the bite of red ants and is also found in spiders, in pine needles, as well as in stinging nettles.

Formic acid is made commercially by the reaction of carbon monoxide with sodium hydroxide and is used in dyeing and finishing textiles, treating leather, and producing fumigants, insecticides, and refrigerants.

Going back to the Latin word for "ant", it was first obtained in 1670 from the distillation of ants.

This entry is located in the following unit: formic-, form-, -formic (page 1)