oxalic acid

oxalic acid (ŏksăl`ĭk) or ethanedioic acid (ĕth'āndīōĭk), HO₂CCO₂H, a colorless, crystalline organic carboxylic acid that melts at 189°C; with sublimation. Oxalic acid and oxalate salts are poisonous. Oxalic acid is found in many plants, e.g., sorrel and rhubarb, usually as its calcium or potassium salts. Oxalic acid is the only possible compound in which two carboxyl groups are joined directly; for this reason oxalic acid is one of the strongest organic acids. Unlike other carboxylic acids (except formic acid), it is readily oxidized; this makes it useful as a reducing agent for photography, bleaching, and ink removal. Oxalic acid is usually prepared by heating sodium formate with sodium hydroxide to form sodium oxalate, which is converted to calcium oxalate and treated with sulfuric acid to obtain free oxalic acid.

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oxalic acid

Colourless, crystalline, toxic carboxylic acid found in many plants, especially rhubarb, wood sorrel, and spinach. Because it forms soluble chelates with iron, some of the iron in these plants is not available nutritionally. However, this property makes it useful for removing blood and rust stains, cleaning metals other than iron, and flushing car radiators. Oxalic acid and its salts (oxalates) are used in many chemical processes.

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oxalic acid

a colourless poisonous crystalline dicarboxylic acid found in many plants: used as a bleach and a cleansing agent for metals. Formula: (COOH)₂

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oxalic acid [äk′sal·ik ′as·əd]

(organic chemistry)

HOOCCOOH·2H₂O Poisonous, transparent, colorless crystals melting at 187°C; soluble in water, alcohol, and ether; used as a chemical intermediate and a bleach, and in polishes and rust removers.