Oxalic Acid
- Acids
- CAS 144-62-7
- IUPAC: ethanedioic acid
CarCareTruth tracks Oxalic Acid (CAS 144-62-7) as a car-care ingredient. It is readily biodegradable.
GHS classifies oxalic acid as Acute Tox. 4 oral (H302) and Acute Tox. 4 dermal (H312), with serious eye irritation or damage on direct contact (H318/H319 depending on supplier classification); signal word WARNING. It is a skin and mucous-membrane irritant. It is not on the California Prop 65 list and carries no carcinogen, mutagen, or reproductive-toxicant GHS classification. These hazards describe the substance; mixture-level classification in a finished wheel or rust-removal product depends on the in-use concentration.
Oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid, CAS 144-62-7) is the simplest dicarboxylic acid. In car care it is the active ingredient in many iron and rust removers, wheel cleaners, water-spot removers, and oxidation/restoration products. It works by chelating metal ions, which lets it dissolve rust (iron oxide), brake-dust staining, and hard-water mineral deposits.
Health: GHS classifications for the substance include H302 (harmful if swallowed) and H312 (harmful in contact with skin), both Acute Toxicity Category 4, plus eye irritation or damage on direct contact. The signal word is WARNING. It is an irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Oxalic acid is not listed under California Prop 65 and has no carcinogen, mutagen, or reproductive-toxicant classification. The hazard a person actually encounters depends on the diluted in-use concentration of the finished product, not the neat acid; gloves and eye protection are sensible when handling concentrate.
Environment: Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring compound, readily biodegradable, and not bioaccumulative or persistent. It is not classified for acute aquatic toxicity, but as an acid it can depress the pH of water it runs off into, so products containing it should not be allowed to drain into waterways.
Health & environment profile
- VOC
- no
- Prop 65 listed
- no
- Asthmagen
- no
- EPA Safer Choice
- no
- Aquatic toxicity
- no
- Biodegradable
- yes
- Bioaccumulative
- no
- Persistent
- no
- Ozone depleting
- no
- Microplastic
- no
- PFAS
- no
- Env. score
- 3/5
Common questions about Oxalic Acid
- What is Oxalic Acid used for in car care?
- Acidic active in wheel cleaners, rust and water-spot removers, and oxidation removers that dissolves iron and mineral deposits by chelating metal ions
- Is Oxalic Acid a VOC?
- No. Oxalic Acid is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
- Is Oxalic Acid on California's Proposition 65 list?
- No. Oxalic Acid is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
- Is Oxalic Acid biodegradable?
- Yes. Oxalic Acid has a confirmed biodegradable profile.
No products on file contain this (yet)
Related
Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.