Answer the following question given this paragraph: 

The anion is the methanoate ion, which is commonly called the formate ion. One reaction to consider is that of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. When combined under the proper conditions, a water molecule will be removed, and the remaining pieces will combine to form a new functional group—the ester functional group:.


Q: The anion is the methanoate ion, which is commonly called the what?


A:
formate ion