Chemical Properties
colorless liquid; solutions are unstable; used in epoxidation and hydroxylation reactions [HAW93]
Uses
For oxidation, epoxidation 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.
