Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid is the simplest dicarboxylic acid, with formula H₂C₂O₄. It occurs in many plants and forms poorly soluble salts with several metal ions.

Dicarboxylic acid: An organic acid containing two carboxyl groups. Oxalic acid is the smallest member of this structural family.
Rust removal: The removal of iron oxides and related corrosion products from a surface. Oxalic acid dissolves some iron deposits and can form soluble iron complexes.
Oxalogenesis: The formation of oxalate through biological or chemical processes. Plants and other organisms produce oxalate through several metabolic pathways.
Formic acid: The simplest carboxylic acid, with formula HCOOH. Formic acid has one carboxyl group, while oxalic acid has two.
Oxalate: The conjugate base or salts of oxalic acid, containing the C₂O₄²⁻ ion. Loss of both acidic protons produces oxalate, the form that binds metals and occurs in salts.
Wood bleaching: A treatment that lightens wood by reducing or removing colored substances and stains. Oxalic acid is used to reduce iron stains and discoloration in wood.
Glyoxylate cycle: A metabolic pathway that converts acetyl-CoA into four-carbon compounds while bypassing carbon-losing steps of the citric acid cycle. Glyoxylate metabolism can contribute to oxalate formation in organisms.
Malonic acid: A dicarboxylic acid with formula C₃H₄O₄ and a methylene group between its carboxyl groups. Malonic acid is the next higher simple dicarboxylic acid in the homologous series.
Calcium oxalate: A poorly soluble calcium salt of oxalic acid, found in kidney stones and many plants. Its low solubility explains plant deposits and its role in some kidney stones.
Analytical chemistry: The branch of chemistry that identifies substances and measures their amounts. Oxalic acid serves as a primary standard for standardizing some oxidizing solutions.

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