Oxalic Acid

Oxalic Acid

Product code: RXSOL-19-1303-025

This colorless crystalline solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate (C2O42) is a chelating agent for metal cat

Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula H2C2O4. This colorless crystalline solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid.
Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate (C2O42), is a chelating agent for metal cations. Typically oxalic acid occurs as the dihydrate with the formula H2C2O4·2H2O.

Application

Transparant, colourless crystals. Hazard: Toxic by inhalation and ingestion, strong irritant.

Uses: general metal and equipment cleaning, purifying agent and intermediate for many compounds.

Oxalic acid's main applications include cleaning or bleaching, Especially for the removal of rust (iron complexing agent), e.g. Bar Keepers Friend is an example of a household cleaner containing oxalic acid.
About 25% of produced oxalic acid is used as a mordant in dyeing processes.
It is used in bleaches, especially for pulpwood.
It is also used in baking powder.

 

Dosage

Solubility in water 14.3 g/100ml (25 °C)
Solubility 23.7 g/100ml (15 °C) in ethanol
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1.4 g/100ml (15 °C) in diethyl ether


Acidity (pKa) 1.25, 4.14

Density 1.90 g cm-3 (anhydrous) or 1.653g cm-3 (dihydrate)