What is a Fluoroacetic acid (CH₂FCOOH)?

Fluoroacetic acid (CH₂FCOOH) is a fluorinated derivative of acetic acid, known for its high toxicity. It is a colorless solid or liquid, highly soluble in water. Fluoroacetic acid has been used primarily as a rodenticide and pesticide. Its sodium salt form, sodium fluoroacetate, is commonly known as "1080", widely applied in countries like Australia and New Zealand for the control of invasive animal species.

Its extreme toxicity arises from its metabolic conversion to fluorocitrate, which inhibits the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle), a vital energy-producing process in cells. This leads to cellular energy failure and death, even at low doses. As such, handling fluoroacetic acid requires extreme caution.

Interestingly, some toxic plants, such as species from the Dichapetalum genus, naturally contain fluoroacetic acid and can cause poisoning in livestock.

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