Oxalic acid dihydrate

Synonyms

Ethanedioic acid, dihydrate; [ChemIDplus] Ethanedioic acid dihydrate; [ICSC] UN3261

Category

Organic Acids

Description

Colorless solid; [ICSC] Colorless hygroscopic crystals; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used in calico printing and dyeing, bleaching straw hats and leather, cleaning wood and metals, purifying methanol, decolorizing crude glycerol, stabilizing hydrocyanic acid, removing paint, and removing stains; Also used in ceramics and pigments, in veterinary hemostatic solutions, in blood specimen anticoagulants, and in other industries (paper, photography, engraving, and rubber manufacturing); [Merck Index] Permitted for use as an inert ingredient in non-food pesticide products; [EPA]

Comments

Causes burns; Ingestion may have effects on calcium balance; Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause kidney stones; [ICSC] Causes burns; Inhalation may cause corrosive injuries to upper respiratory tract and lungs; Harmful by ingestion and skin absorption; May have teratogenic effects; Targets the kidney, nerves, blood, and eyes; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS] See "Oxalic acid."

Biomedical References

1 mg/m3

2 mg/m3

1 mg/m3

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Corrosive solid, acidic, organic, n.o.s."

Yes

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Photographic Processing
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)