An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A colorless, corrosive fuming liquid with pungent odor. It occurs in various plants and in the venom of many ant species. Used in dyeing, tanning, and electroplating. Also called methanoic acid. HCOOH is the simplest organic acid and the first identified in the interstellar medium (Zuckerman et al. 1971, ApJ, 163, L41). It has been observed principally in star-forming regions such as Orion KL, Sgr B2, Sgr A, and W51 and is associated with → hot molecular cores and → massive star formation. Recently, it has also been shown to be present in some → hot corinos associated with formation of stars similar to our Sun. Due to the presence of carboxyl radical (COOH), it plays an important role in the pathway formation of → prebiotic molecules like amino acids, in the interstellar clouds and comets (see, e.g., Lattanzi et al. 2008, ApJS 176, 536).

See also: From L. formica “ant,” ultimately from from PIE *morwi-, *wormiko- “ant;” cf. Av. maoiri-; Mid.Per. môr; Pers. mur, murcé “ant;” Skt. vamra- “ant;” Gk. murmeks, wormikas; O.C.S. mraviji; O.Ir. moirb; O.N. maurr.