Performic Acid

Chemical properties

colorless liquid; solutions are unstable; used in epoxidation and hydroxylation reactions [HAW93]

The Uses of Performic Acid

Performic Acid is used for oxidation, epoxidation and hydroxylation reactions.

The Uses of Performic Acid

Peroxyformic acid is used as an epoxidizingagent and in organic synthesis involvingoxidation and hydroxylation reactions.

Definition

ChEBI: A peroxy acid is a peroxy acid.

Health Hazard

Peroxyformic acid is nontoxic. It is a skinand eye irritant. Its irritant action is lesssevere than that of peroxyacetic acid. Thereare no reports on its tumorigenic properties.

Fire Hazard

Peroxyformic acid is the only oxygen-balanced organic peroxide. Its active oxygen content (25.8%) is greater than that of other peroxy compounds. It is therefore expected to undergo extremely violent decomposition. However, in practice, this compound forms only in situ and the commercial formulations contain its aqueous or dilute solutions in organic solvents.
The solutions of peroxyformic acid are shock and heat sensitive and highly reactive and decompose violently when exposed to heat. Dilution with water increases the sensitivity to shock and heat. It is a strong oxidizer and may react violently with readilyoxidizable substances. It may ignite and explodes when mixed with accelerators or flammable substances. Peroxyformic acid at 60% strength can react violently with formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, aniline, powdered aluminum, and lead dioxide (NFPA 1986). Water from a sprinkler system may be used from an explosion-resistant location to fight fire and keep the containers cool. .

Safety Profile

A powerful irritant and an oxidizer. A dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame, or reducing materials. Unstable and shock-sensitive. 80% solution is explosive. Extremely dangerous when moved. Violent reaction with carbon, red phosphorus, silicon

Waste Disposal

The spilled solution of peroxyformic acidshould be absorbed by vermiculite or othernoncombustible absorbent and disposed ofimmediately. Do not use paper, wood, orspark-generating metals for sweeping andhandling. It is destroyed by burning on theground in a remote place using a long torch.Concentrated aqueous solutions in a smallquantity may be diluted with copious quantities of water and flushed down the drain.