Contents

Oxalate

Any derivative of oxalic acid; chemical compound containing oxalate moiety

Oxalate

The structure of the oxalate anion
Names
IUPAC name Oxalate
Systematic IUPAC name Ethanedioate[1]
Identifiers
CAS Number	338-70-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	1905970
ChEBI	CHEBI:30623
ChemSpider	64235
Gmelin Reference	2207
KEGG	C00209
PubChem CID	71081
UNII	PQ7QG47K6T Y
InChI InChI=1S/C2H2O4/c3-1(4)2(5)6/h(H,3,4)(H,5,6)/p-2 Key: MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-L InChI=1S/C2H2O4/c3-1(4)2(5)6/h(H,3,4)(H,5,6)/p-2 Key: MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES C(=O)(C(=O)[O-])[O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	C2O2−4
Molar mass	88.018 g·mol−1
Conjugate acid	Hydrogenoxalate[2]
Structure
Point group	D2h
Related compounds
Related isoelectronic	Dinitrogen tetroxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Oxalate (systematic IUPAC name: ethanedioate) is an anion with the chemical formula formula C₂O2−4. This dianion is colorless. It occurs naturally, including in some foods. It forms a variety of salts, for example sodium oxalate (Na₂C₂O₄), and several esters such as dimethyl oxalate ((CH₃)₂C₂O₄). It is a conjugate baseofoxalic acid. At neutral pHinaqueous solution, oxalic acid converts completely to oxalate.

Relationship to oxalic acid[edit]

The dissociation of protons from oxalic acid proceeds in a stepwise manner; as for other polyprotic acids, loss of a single proton results in the monovalent hydrogenoxalate anion HC₂O−4. A salt with this anion is sometimes called an acid oxalate, monobasic oxalate, or hydrogen oxalate. The equilibrium constant (K_a) for loss of the first proton is 5.37×10⁻² (pK_a = 1.27). The loss of the second proton, which yields the oxalate ion, has an equilibrium constant of 5.25×10⁻⁵ (pK_a = 4.28). These values imply, in solutions with neutral pH, no oxalic acid and only trace amounts of hydrogen oxalate exist.^[3] The literature is often unclear on the distinction between H₂C₂O₄, HC₂O−4, and C₂O2−4, and the collection of species is referred to as oxalic acid.^{[citation needed]}

Structure[edit]

The oxalate anion exists in a nonplanar conformation where the O–C–C–O dihedrals approach 90° with approximate D_2d symmetry.^[4] When chelated to cations, oxalate adopts the planar, D_2h conformation.^[5][6] However, in the structure of caesium oxalate Cs₂C₂O₄ the O–C–C–O dihedral angle is 81(1)°.^[7][8] Therefore, Cs₂C₂O₄ is more closely approximated by a D_2d symmetry structure because the two CO₂ planes are staggered. Two structural forms of rubidium oxalate Rb₂C₂O₄ have been identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: one contains a planar and the other a staggered oxalate.

Nonplanar conformation found in caesium oxalate Cs₂C₂O₄^[8][9]

The barrier to rotation about this bond is calculated to be roughly 2–6 kcal/mol for the free dianion, C₂O2−4.^[11][12][13] Such results are consistent with the interpretation that the central C−C bond is regarded as a single bond with minimal π interactions between the two CO−2 units.^[4] This barrier to rotation about the C−C bond (which formally corresponds to the difference in energy between the planar and staggered forms) may be attributed to electrostatic interactions as unfavorable O−O repulsion is maximized in the planar form.

Occurrence in nature[edit]

Oxalate occurs in many plants, where it is synthesized by the incomplete oxidationofsaccharides.

Several plant foods such as the root and/or leaves of spinach, rhubarb, and buckwheat are high in oxalic acid and can contribute to the formation of kidney stones in some individuals. Other oxalate-rich plants include fat hen ("lamb's quarters"), sorrel, and several Oxalis species (also sometimes called sorrels). The root and/or leaves of rhubarb and buckwheat are high in oxalic acid.^[14] Other edible plants with significant concentrations of oxalate include, in decreasing order, star fruit (carambola), black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, amaranth, chard, beets, cocoa, chocolate, most nuts, most berries, fishtail palms, New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides), and beans.^{[citation needed]} Leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) contain among the greatest measured concentrations of oxalic acid relative to other plants. However, the drink derived by infusion in hot water typically contains only low to moderate amounts of oxalic acid due to the small mass of leaves used for brewing.^{[citation needed]}

Physiological effects[edit]

Excess consumption of oxalate-rich foods has been linked to kidney stone formation of metal ions, such as calcium oxalate, a risk factor for kidney stones.^[16]

Some fungi of the genus Aspergillus produce oxalic acid.^[17]

As a ligand for metal ions[edit]

Oxalate also forms coordination compounds where it is sometimes abbreviated as ox. It is commonly encountered as a bidentate ligand. When the oxalate chelates to a single metal center, it always adopts the planar conformation. As a bidentate ligand, it forms a 5-membered MC₂O₂ ring. An illustrative complex is potassium ferrioxalate, K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]. The drug oxaliplatin exhibits improved water solubility relative to older platinum-based drugs, avoiding the dose-limiting side-effect of nephrotoxicity. Oxalic acid and oxalates can be oxidized by permanganate in an autocatalytic reaction. One of the main applications of oxalic acid is rust-removal, which arises because oxalate forms water-soluble derivatives with the ferric ion.

Excess[edit]

An excess oxalate level in the blood is termed hyperoxalemia, and high levels of oxalate in the urine is termed hyperoxaluria.

Acquired[edit]

Although unusual, consumption of oxalates (for example, the grazing of animals on oxalate-containing plants such as Bassia hyssopifolia, or human consumption of wood sorrel or, specifically in excessive quantities, black tea) may result in kidney disease or even death due to oxalate poisoning. The New England Journal of Medicine reported acute oxalate nephropathy "almost certainly due to excessive consumption of iced tea" in a 56-year-old man, who drank "sixteen 8-ounce glasses of iced tea daily" (roughly 3.8 liters). The authors of the paper hypothesized that acute oxalate nephropathy is an underdiagnosed cause of kidney failure and suggested thorough examination of patient dietary history in cases of unexplained kidney failure without proteinuria (an excess of protein in the urine) and with large amounts of calcium oxalate in urine sediment.^[18] Oxalobacter formigenes in the gut flora may help alleviate this.^[19]

Congenital[edit]

Primary hyperoxaluria is a rare, inherited condition, resulting in increased excretion of oxalate, with oxalate stones being common.

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Euler. "K_sp Table: Solubility product constants near 25 °C". chm.uri.edu. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
• Ibis, Fatma; Dhand, Priya; Suleymanli, Sanan; van der Heijden, Antoine E. D. M.; Kramer, Herman J. M.; Eral, Huseyin Burak (2020). "A combined experimental and modelling study on solubility of calcium oxalate monohydrate at physiologically relevant pH and temperatures". Crystals. 10 (10): 924. doi:10.3390/cryst10100924. ISSN 2073-4352.
• Ulmgren, Per; Rådeström, Rune (1999). "Solubility of calcium oxalate in the presence of magnesium ions, and solubility of magnesium oxalate in sodium chloride medium". Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal. 14 (4): 330–335. doi:10.3183/npprj-1999-14-04-p330-335. ISSN 2000-0669. S2CID 96834193.

External links[edit]

• Oxalate.org - Oxalate content of 750+ foods from university and government sources