Formiate

Formiate refers to the anion of formic acid, with the chemical formula HCOO−. It is the conjugate base of formic acid, which is the simplest carboxylic acid. Formiate can also refer to a salt or ester of formic acid. In organic chemistry, formiate is considered the acyl group derived from formic acid.

Formiate salts are generally soluble in water, with common examples including sodium formate and potassium formate. These salts find various industrial applications. For instance, sodium formate is used in leather tanning, as a de-icing agent for roads, and in the production of other chemicals. Potassium formate is also employed as a de-icing agent, particularly for airport runways, due to its lower freezing point and biodegradability compared to traditional salt-based de-icers.

Formate esters are formed by the reaction of formic acid with an alcohol. These compounds can serve as solvents or intermediates in organic synthesis. For example, methyl formate and ethyl formate are used as solvents and refrigerants. The presence of the formiate functional group is characteristic of these compounds. Formic acid itself, and by extension its anion formiate, plays a role in biological systems, being a metabolic intermediate in some organisms.