Molekula
Formic acid for LCMS
Supplying 4,500+ customers in over 80 countries
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 certified · Supplying laboratories and industry since 2000 · Listed pack sizes are a starting point — we manufacture, source and repack to the quantity you need
Formic acid (CAS 64-18-6) is a simple carboxylic acid used primarily as a mobile phase modifier in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) to improve peak shape, retention, and ionization efficiency. It is also employed in protein denaturation and as a preservative. More broadly, formic acid is used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed, a reagent in organic synthesis, and a processing acid in leather tanning, textile dyeing and electroplating. Catalogue details: CH2O2, molecular weight 46.03 g/mol, stored at ambient conditions. Hazard classification includes the signal word "Danger" due to its corrosive properties. Molekula supplies Formic acid for LCMS from research to bulk quantities with full documentation and ISO 9001:2015 traceability.
Example image for illustration only. Other packaging and pack sizes are available.
Pricing & pack sizes
These pack sizes aren't a limit. Molekula manufactures, sources and repacks to order — if you need 500 kg and only see 1 kg listed, . We quote from grams to multi-tonne.
Need a different size? Add the nearest pack and change the size in your basket — we price it at the same rate per unit.
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1 mL — £40.00 per pack ex VAT · £48.00 inc. VAT
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100 mL — £990.00 per pack ex VAT · £1,188.00 inc. VAT
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Tell us how much you need and when — drums, IBCs, sacks or a one-off bulk lot. We'll manufacture or source it and come back with a price.
Prices exclude VAT/sales tax and shipping.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Refractive Index | 1.370-1.372 |
| Chloride (Cl-) | ≤5 ppm |
| Assay | ≥97.5% |
| Non-Volatile Matter | ≤0.002 % |
| APHA | ≤15 |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤0.2 ppm |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤0.02 ppm |
| Calcium (Ca) | ≤0.2 ppm |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤0.02 ppm |
| Magnesium (Mg) | ≤0.5 ppm |
| Ammonium (NH4+) | ≤10 ppm |
| Potassium (K) | ≤0.1 ppm |
| Nickel (Ni) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Strontium (Sr) | ≤0.02 ppm |
| Barium (Ba) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Thallium (Tl) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Chromium (Cr) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Cobalt (Co) | ≤0.02 ppm |
| Sodium (Na) | ≤0.5 ppm |
| Silver (Ag) | ≤0.02 ppm |
| Aluminium (Al) | ≤0.05 ppm |
| Bismuth (Bi) | ≤0.1 ppm |
| Lithium (Li) | ≤0.02 ppm |
Storage & handling
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | Ambient |
| Flash Point | 49 °C |
| Transport Class | 8 (3) |
| Packing Group | II |
| Acidity | Acid |
Literature values
Published physical properties of the substance, not batch specifications.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colorless fuming liquid |
| Odour | Pungent, penetrating odor |
| Melting Point | 8.3 °C |
| Boiling Point | 101 °C |
| Density | 1.2 (relative, water = 1) |
| Water Solubility | Miscible with water |
| Solubility (other solvents) | Miscible with ether, acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol; partially soluble in benzene, toluene, xylenes |
| Vapour Pressure | 4.6 kPa at 20 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.3714 |
| pKa | pKa = 3.75 (at 25 °C) |
| log P (octanol/water) | -0.54 |
Source: PubChem CID 284 (HSDB, DrugBank, ICSC)
Identification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 90034457 |
| CAS Number | 64-18-6 |
| IUPAC Name | formic acid |
| EC Number | 200-579-1 |
| Molecular Formula | CH2O2 |
| Molecular Weight | 46.03 |
| Exact Mass | 46.0055 |
| SMILES | C(=O)O |
| InChIKey | BDAGIHXWWSANSR-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| InChI | InChI=1S/CH2O2/c2-1-3/h1H,(H,2,3) |
| PubChem CID | 284 |
| UN Number | UN1779 |
| REACH Code | Y110 |
| TSCA Listed | Yes |
| HTS Code | 2915.11.0000 |
| Tariff Code | 2915110000 |
Safety & GHS
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Flammable
GHS02
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Corrosive
GHS05
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Toxic
GHS06
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Health Hazard
GHS07
Hazard statements
- EUH071 Corrosive to the respiratory tract
- H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
- H318 Causes serious eye damage
- H331 Toxic if inhaled
Precautionary statements
- P210 Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces - No smoking
- P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray
- P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
- P301+310 IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician
- P302+352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with soap and water
- P305+351+338 IF IN EYES: Rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing
Documents
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) by batch
Enter a lot or batch number to retrieve the CoA for that specific batch. We can generate one from spec data if no PDF is on file.
Synonyms
- Aminic acid
- Bilorin
- Collo-bueglatt
- formic acid
- Formira
- Formisoton
- Formylic acid
- Hydrogen carboxylic acid
- Methanoic acid
- Myrmicyl
Frequently asked questions
What is formic acid (CAS 64-18-6) used for in LC-MS applications?
Formic acid is commonly used as a modifier in LC-MS mobile phases to improve peak shape, sensitivity, and ionization efficiency, particularly in electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) modes.
What is the chemical formula and molecular weight of formic acid?
The chemical formula is **CH₂O₂**, and the molecular weight is **46.03 g/mol**.
How should formic acid be stored?
Store formic acid at **ambient temperature** in a tightly sealed container, away from incompatible substances like oxidizing agents and strong bases.
What grades of formic acid are available for LC-MS applications?
Molekula supplies **LC-MS grade formic acid**, meeting stringent purity requirements for analytical applications (typically ≥99.0% purity).
Can Molekula supply formic acid in bulk quantities for LC-MS use?
Yes, we offer formic acid in bulk quantities, including drums and IBCs, tailored to meet your LC-MS workflow demands.
What documentation is provided with a formic acid order for LC-MS?
Each order includes a **Certificate of Analysis (CoA)**, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and batch-specific purity and impurity profiles for LC-MS compatibility.
What is it used for?
Beyond its role as an LC-MS mobile phase additive, formic acid is widely used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed and as a reagent in organic synthesis. Industrially, it serves as a processing acid in leather tanning, textile dyeing and finishing, and electroplating.
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