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Ants.
Formic acid, also called methanoic acid, the simplest of the carboxylic acids, used in processing textiles and leather. Formic acid was first isolated from certain ants and was named after the Latin formica, meaning “ant.” It is made by the action of sulfuric acid upon sodium formate, which is produced from carbon monoxide and sodium hydroxide.
Formic acid is an irritating chemical present in the sprayed venom of some ant species and in the secretion released from some stinging nettles. It's dangerous at high concentrations, but at low concentrations it's very useful.
Humans use formic acid as a food preservative, since it's an antibacterial substance. It’s also used to kill pests, to produce food and cosmetic additives, and to help a variety of industrial processes to occur.
Our bodies make small quantities of formic acid from the methanol that we ingest, inhale, or produce. Some of the methanol produced in the body is made from the sweetener known as aspartame. The body converts aspartame into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The methanol is then converted into formic acid. Fortunately, researchers say that the formic acid in our body is generally too dilute to be dangerous.
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