Orthoformic acid

Orthoformic acid
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name Methanetriol
	Other names Orthoformic acid; Trihydroxymethane
Identifiers
CAS Number	463-78-5 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	4401409 ;
PubChem CID	5231666;
UNII	WIU6G972U6 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50894118 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/CH4O3/c2-1(3)4/h1-4H Key: RLAHWVDQYNDAGG-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/CH4O3/c2-1(3)4/h1-4H Key: RLAHWVDQYNDAGG-UHFFFAOYAS;
	SMILES OC(O)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	HC(OH)3
Molar mass	64.040 g·mol−1
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Orthoformic acid or methanetriol is a chemical compound with the formula H C(OH)₃. In this molecule, the central carbon atom is bound to one hydrogen and three hydroxyl groups.

Orthoformic acid was long held to be a hypothetical chemical compound, as it was expected to decompose instantly into formic acid and water, making it too unstable to isolate or observe. However, observation was shown to be possible in 2024, when it was identified by mass spectrometry. This involved the electron-irradiation of a frozen mixture of methanol and oxygen.

Names

Preferred IUPAC name Methanetriol
Other names Orthoformic acid Trihydroxymethane
Identifiers
CAS Number	463-78-5^Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	4401409^Y
PubChem CID	5231666
UNII	WIU6G972U6^Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50894118
InChI InChI=1S/CH4O3/c2-1(3)4/h1-4H^Y Key: RLAHWVDQYNDAGG-UHFFFAOYSA-N^Y InChI=1/CH4O3/c2-1(3)4/h1-4H Key: RLAHWVDQYNDAGG-UHFFFAOYAS
SMILES OC(O)O
Properties
Chemical formula	HC(OH)₃
Molar mass	64.040 g·mol⁻¹
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is ^YN ?) Infobox references