Formic acid Formic acid Formic acid, systematically named methanoic acid, is the simplest carboxylic acid. The chemical formula is HCOOH or HCOH. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in some ants. The word "formic" comes from the Latin word for ant, "formica", referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. Esters, salts, and the anion derived from formic acid are called formates. Industrially formic acid is produced from methanol. Formic acid is a colorless liquid having a pungent, penetrating odor at room temperature, not unlike the related acetic acid. It is miscible
Hypophosphorous acid Hypophosphorous acid Hypophosphorous acid is a phosphorus oxyacid and a powerful reducing agent with molecular formula HPO. Inorganic chemists refer to the free acid by this name (also as "HPA"), or the acceptable name of phosphinic acid. It is a colorless high-melting compound, which is soluble in water, dioxane, and alcohols. The formula for blue acid is generally written HPO, but a more descriptive presentation is HOP(O)H which highlights its monoprotic character. Salts derived from this acid are called phosphinates (hypophosphites). HOP(O)H exists in equilibrium with the minor tautomer HP(OH). Sometimes the minor tautomer is called hypophosphorous acid and the