Note 28 — Chapter IX · COMPOUNDS OF CARBON WITH OXYGEN AND NITROGEN

The decomposition of formic and oxalic acids, with the formation of carbonic oxide, considering these acids as carboxyl derivatives, may be explained as follows:—The first is H(COOH) and the second (COOH)2, or H2 in which one or both halves of the hydrogen are exchanged for carboxyl; therefore they are equal to H2 + CO2 and H2 + 2CO2; but H2 reacts with CO2, as has been stated above, forming CO and H2O. From this it is also evident that oxalic acid on losing CO2 forms formic acid, and also that the latter may proceed from CO + H2O, as we shall see further on.