Oxalic Acid (also Called Ethanedioic Acid) Is A Colourless, Crystalline, Toxic Organic Compound Belonging To The Family Of Dicarboxylic Acids; Melting At 187 C; Soluble In Water, Alcohol, And Ether. It Occurs In The Form Of Its Metal Salts (usually Calcium Or Potassium) In Many Plants. It Is Commercially Manufactured By Heating Sodium Formate In The Presence Of An Alkali Catalyst To Form Sodium Oxalate, Which Should Be Converted To Free Oxalic Acid When Treated With Sulfuric Acid. It Is Also Prepared By Oxidizing Carbohydrates With Nitric Acid, By Heating Saw Dust With Caustic Alkalies Or By Fermentation Of Sugar Solutions In The Presence Of Certain Molds.

Oxalic Acid (also Called Ethanedioic Acid) Is A Colourless, Crystalline, Toxic Organic Compound Belonging To The Family Of Dicarboxylic Acids; Melting At 187 C; Soluble In Water, Alcohol, And Ether. It Occurs In The Form Of Its Metal Salts (usually Calcium Or Potassium) In Many Plants. It Is Commercially Manufactured By Heating Sodium Formate In The Presence Of An Alkali Catalyst To Form Sodium Oxalate, Which Should Be Converted To Free Oxalic Acid When Treated With Sulfuric Acid. It Is Also Prepared By Oxidizing Carbohydrates With Nitric Acid, By Heating Saw Dust With Caustic Alkalies Or By Fermentation Of Sugar Solutions In The Presence Of Certain Molds.