Advertisement
Grab your lab coat. Let's get started
Welcome!
Welcome!
Create an account below to get 6 C&EN articles per month, receive newsletters and more - all free.
It seems this is your first time logging in online. Please enter the following information to continue.
As an ACS member you automatically get access to this site. All we need is few more details to create your reading experience.
Not you? Sign in with a different account.
Not you? Sign in with a different account.
ERROR 1
ERROR 1
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
Password and Confirm password must match.
If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)
ERROR 2
ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.
Synthesis
Illustrative Ant Poetry
June 2, 2014
| A version of this story appeared in
Volume 92, Issue 22
“An Ant’s Acid Antidote” reported on some interesting chemical aspects of ants’ body fluids as self-protection (C&EN, March 3, page 44). As a fan of the humorous poetry of Ogden Nash (1902–71), I looked for his fairly well-known poem:
“The Ant”
The ant has made himself illustrious
Through constant industry industrious.
So What?
Would you be calm, would you be placid
If you were full of formic acid?
That this ditty was penned more than 40 years ago suggests that the formic acid content of ants’ body fluids has been known for several decades. I expect that other chemists will express their thoughts that the C&EN article should have cited Nash.
James E. Sturm
Hellertown, Pa.
The power is now in your (nitrile gloved) hands
Sign up for a free account to get more articles. Or choose the ACS option that’s right for you.
Already have an ACS ID? Log in
Join the conversation
Contact the reporter
Submit a Letter to the Editor for publication
Engage with us on Twitter