If I add phosphorus pentoxide to formic acid at atmospheric pressure and 20°C will they react? At what rate will CO be produced?
I have not been able to find a reference discussing this.
Chemistry Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scientists, academics, teachers, and students in the field of chemistry. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityIf I add phosphorus pentoxide to formic acid at atmospheric pressure and 20°C will they react? At what rate will CO be produced?
I have not been able to find a reference discussing this.
As noted, the dehydrating action of H2SO4 on HCOOH liberates CO gas. To quote a source:
The sulfuric acid removes the elements of water (i.e., H2O) from the formic or oxalic acid and absorbs the water produced.
As P2O5 is at least as dehydrating as Sulfuric acid, expect the same per the reaction:
$$\ce{P2O5 + 3 HCOOH -> 3 CO (g) + 2 H3PO4}$$