Oxalic acid Oxalic acid Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula CHO. It is a colorless crystalline solid that forms a colorless solution in water. Its condensed formula is HOOCCOOH, reflecting its classification as the simplest dicarboxylic acid. Its acid strength is much greater than that of acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate (), is a chelating agent for metal cations. Typically, oxalic acid occurs as the dihydrate with the formula CHO·2HO. It occurs naturally in many foods, but excessive ingestion of oxalic acid or prolonged skin contact can be dangerous.
Glutaconic acid can be used to make it: the "trans" form isomerizes under the reaction conditions. Glutaric, 3-hydroxyglutaric, and glutaconic acids are structurally related metabolites. In glutaric aciduria type 1, glutaconic acid accumulates, resulting in brain damage. Glutaconic acid "trans"-Glutaconic acid is an organic compound with formula HOCCH=CHCHCOH. This dicarboxylic acid exists as a colorless solid and is related to the saturated chemical glutaric acid, HOCC(CH)COH. Esters and salts of glutaconic acid are called glutaconates. The geometric isomer, "cis"-glutaconic acid, has a noticeably lower melting point (130–132 °C). It can be prepared by bromination of levulinic acid followed by treatment of the