Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Oxalic acid from acetylene

Vikascoder - 10-2-2012 at 21:47

Somewhere in my books i read that Oxalic acid is prepared from acetylene by passing it in a solution of kmno4 and naoh . Has anyone ever tried this process process . If yes then tell how much quantities have been used

AJCS

cal - 10-2-2012 at 23:14

M. Lucretia Kearns, L. Heiser, J. A. Nieuwland

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1923, 45 (3), pp 795–799

DOI: 10.1021/ja01656a036

Publication Date: March 1923

UnintentionalChaos - 11-2-2012 at 00:08

Quote: Originally posted by cal  
M. Lucretia Kearns, L. Heiser, J. A. Nieuwland

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1923, 45 (3), pp 795–799

DOI: 10.1021/ja01656a036

Publication Date: March 1923


That paper uses nitric acid and mercuric nitrate. Mercury is not something that I would consider reasonable to use here given the toxicity, considering how extremely cheap and readily available oxalic acid is.

Sucrose is acted on by nitric acid with a V2O5 catalyst (while not healthy, it's better than Hg) to give a moderate yield of oxalic acid. I believe Magpie has a post about this somewhere.

Vikascoder - 11-2-2012 at 01:51

I have oxalic acid and i am not going to make it but i want to know how it can be prepared from acetylene