The Collaborative International Dictionary
Oxalic \Ox*al"ic\, a. [From Oxalis: cf. F. oxalique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or contained in, sorrel, or oxalis; specifically, designating an acid found in, and characteristic of, oxalis, and also certain plant of the Buckwheat family.
Oxalic acid (Chem.), a dibasic acid ( HO.CO.CO.OH), existing combined in oxalis as an acid potassium oxalate, and in many plant tissues as the calcium oxalate. It is prepared on a large scale, by the action of fused caustic soda or potash on sawdust, as a white crystalline substance, which has a strong acid taste, and is poisonous in large doses. It is used in dyeing, calico printing, bleaching flax and straw, the preparation of formic acid, and in salts of lemon for removing ink stains, mold, etc.
Wiktionary
n. (context organic compound English) A colourless, crystalline dicarboxylic acid, (COOH)2, found in rhubarb, spinach and other plants, often as crystals of the calcium salt.
WordNet
n. a toxic colorless crystalline organic acid found in oxalis and other plants; used as a bleach and rust remover and in chemical analysis [syn: ethanedioic acid]
Wikipedia
Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula CHO. It is a colorless crystalline solid that forms a colorless solution in water. Its condensed formula is HOOCCOOH, reflecting its classification as the simplest dicarboxylic acid. Its acid strength is much greater than that of acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate , is a chelating agent for metal cations. Typically, oxalic acid occurs as the dihydrate with the formula CHO·2HO. Excessive ingestion of oxalic acid or prolonged skin contact can be dangerous.
Usage examples of "oxalic acid".
By Crums, they might get the salts and oxalic acid mixed up if they came to treat me, for there's no love lost between us.
It also contains a little sugar, fumaric acid, oxalic acid, about 3 per cent of cetrarin and 1 per cent of licheno-stearic acid.
Powell yelled happily and shouted, Lets go back after the oxalic acid, Mike.
The bitter-clean smell of oxalic acid hinted at acid-to-oxygen chemistry.
Cause of death, poisoning by oxalic acid or binoxalate of potassium - probably the latter - commonly called salts of lemon.
Like the scientist who, in analyzing the various clotting agents for blood treatments, found that oxalic acid and oxalic acid alone was, the active factor, Kidder isolated the accelerators and decelerators, the stimulants and soporifics, in every substance that ever undermined a mans morality and/or caused a noble experiment.
Like the scientist who, in analyzing the various clotting agents for blood treatments, found that oxalic acid and oxalic acid alone was, the active factor, Kidder isolated the accelerators and decelerators, the stimulants and soporifics, in every substance that ever undermined a man’.
Poisonous if eaten because they contain high concentrations of oxalic acid.
Substances that East End men and women used to poison themselves from 1884 to 1890 include oxalic acid, laudanum, opium, hydrochloric acid, belladonna, ammonia carbonate, nitric acid, carbolic acid, lead, alcohol, turpentine, camphorated chloroform, zinc, and strychnine.
Stay off the leafy things with the dark-red veins-oxalic acid, I think, like in rhubarb leaves.