MCQ Detailed View

Formic acid (HCOOH) is the simplest carboxylic acid and an important compound in organic chemistry. Its name is derived from the Latin word “formica,” meaning ant. This is because formic acid is naturally secreted by ants as a defense mechanism. When ants bite or sting, they release small amounts of formic acid to deter predators and protect their colony.

Historically, formic acid was first obtained by distilling ants. Early chemists observed that the liquid obtained from crushed ants contained a pungent acid, which was later identified as formic acid. This natural source directly influenced its naming. The biological role of formic acid in ants is to act as a chemical weapon and antiseptic, preventing infections and deterring predators.

Formic acid is widely used in industry as well. It is employed as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed, in leather production, and as a reactant in chemical syntheses. Despite these industrial applications, its origin and name remain linked to ants due to its natural occurrence.

Other options in the question are incorrect:

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  It was not used to destroy ant-hills.

  
  


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  While ants were historically involved in its first extraction, the name specifically comes from its secretion by ants, not just from distillation.

  
  


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  Ants are not attracted to the smell of formic acid; rather, it acts as a defensive chemical.

  
  

Understanding the etymology of chemical compounds, like formic acid, helps students connect organic chemistry concepts with natural sources and historical discoveries.

Thus, the name formic acid is derived from ants because it is secreted by ants to defend themselves.