This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[L. formica, ant.] A sharp acid occurring naturally in ants, nettles, etc., and produced artificially in several ways. It is the first member of the fatty acids in the paraffin series, and is similar in character to acetic acid.
 
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