This page provides supplementary chemical data on formic acid.
The handling of this chemical may incur notable safety precautions. It is highly recommend that you seek the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS) for this chemical from a reliable source and follow its directions.
Structure and properties | ||||||||||
Index of refraction, nD | 1.3714 at 20 °C | |||||||||
Abbe number | ? | |||||||||
Dielectric constant, εr | 58.5 ε0 at 16 °C measured at 400 MHz | |||||||||
Bond strength | ? | |||||||||
Bond length[1] | C=O bond: 123 pm C–OH bond: 136 pm | |||||||||
Bond angle | ? | |||||||||
Magnetic susceptibility | ? | |||||||||
Surface tension | 37.67 dyn/cm at 20 °C | |||||||||
Viscosity[2] |
| |||||||||
Phase behavior | ||
Triple point | 281.40 K (8.25 °C), 2.2 kPa | |
Critical point[3] | 588 K (315 °C), 5.81 MPa | |
Std enthalpy change of fusion, ΔfusH | +12.68 kJ/mol | |
Std entropy change of fusion, ΔfusS | +45.05 J/(mol·K) at 8.25 °C | |
Std enthalpy change of vaporization, ΔvapH | +23.1 kJ/mol | |
Std entropy change of vaporization, ΔvapS | +61.8 J/(mol·K) | |
Solid properties | ||
Std enthalpy change of formation, ΔfH | ? kJ/mol | |
Standard molar entropy, S | ? J/(mol K) | |
Heat capacity, cp | 74.5 J/(mol K) at –22 °C 82.8 J/(mol K) at 0 °C | |
Liquid properties | ||
Std enthalpy change of formation, ΔfH | –425.5 kJ/mol | |
Standard molar entropy, S | 129.0 J/(mol K) | |
Enthalpy of combustion, ΔcH | –254.6 kJ/mol | |
Heat capacity, cp | 101.3 J/(mol K) at 20–100 °C | |
Gas properties | ||
Std enthalpy change of formation, ΔfH | –362.6 kJ/mol | |
Standard molar entropy, S | 251.0 J/(mol K) | |
Heat capacity, cp | 45.68 J/(mol K) at 25 °C |
P in mm Hg | 1 | 10 | 40 | 100 | 400 | 760 | ||
T in °C | –20.0(s) | 2.1(s) | 24.0 | 43.8 | 80.3 | 100.6 |
Table data obtained from CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 44th ed. The "(s)" notation indicates temperature of solid/vapor equilibrium. Otherwise the data is temperature of liquid/vapor equilibrium.
Vapor-liquid Equilibrium for Formic acid/Water[4] P = 760 mmHg | |||
BP Temp. °C | % by mole water | ||
---|---|---|---|
liquid | vapor | ||
102.3 | 4.05 | 2.45 | |
104.6 | 15.5 | 10.2 | |
105.9 | 21.8 | 16.2 | |
107.1 | 32.1 | 27.9 | |
107.6 | 40.9 | 40.2 | |
107.6 | 41.1 | 40.5 | |
107.6 | 46.4 | 48.2 | |
107.1 | 52.2 | 56.7 | |
106.0 | 63.2 | 71.8 | |
104.2 | 74.0 | 83.6 | |
102.9 | 82.9 | 91.7 | |
101.8 | 90.0 | 95.1 |
UV-Vis | ||
λmax | ? nm | |
Extinction coefficient, ε | ? | |
IR | ||
Major absorption bands | ? cm−1 | |
NMR | ||
Other NMR data | ||
MS | ||
Masses of main fragments |
Formic acid | ||
EINECS number | 200-579-1 | |
Safety data | ||
EU classification | Corrosive (C) | |
PEL | 5 ppm (9 mg/m3) | |
IDLH | 30 ppm | |
Autoignition temperature | 520 °C | |
Explosive limits | 18–51% |