H2CO2
Formic acid · Methanoic acid
Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, widely used as a chemical intermediate and industrial reagent.
About Formic acid
Formic acid is a fundamental organic compound consisting of a carboxylic acid group attached to a hydrogen atom. It is characterized as a wide-band-gap insulator, reflecting its role as a stable molecular species in many chemical environments despite its thermodynamic tendency to decompose under specific conditions.
This compound is a vital chemical intermediate, widely utilized in the synthesis of various industrial products. Its structural versatility and reactivity make it a significant subject for researchers studying small organic molecules and their potential for energy storage or chemical feedstock applications.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Formic acid, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where Formic acid is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Formic acid, answered from cross-validated data.
What is H2CO2?
Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, widely used as a chemical intermediate and industrial reagent.
What is H2CO2 used for?
What is the band gap of H2CO2?
Is H2CO2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is H2CO2 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of H2CO2 are known?
What elements does H2CO2 contain?
Where does the data for H2CO2 come from?
How It Compares
As a foundational carboxylic acid, this compound serves as the simplest member of its class. It acts as a primary benchmark for understanding the reactivity and electronic behavior of more complex organic acids, providing a baseline for structural and thermodynamic comparisons within the broader landscape of carbon-based chemistry.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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