Prepared synthetically for the first time in 1776, oxalic acid has been found valuable for many industrial uses. The substance is most often utilized as a wood-bleaching agent, but is also exploited as a rust remover, a grinding agent, a laundry rinse, and a calcium remover in wastewater treatment. Imbibing synthetic oxalic acid is extremely dangerous and can cause oral lesions, tremors, convulsions, shock, vomiting, and the dropping of blood pressure to a fatal level.