Definition and Areas of Use:
Molecular Formula: CH2O Melting-Boiling point: -15,-21 C (37% purity) Molar weight: 30.026 g/mol It is the simplest member of aldehydes. Its other name is Methanal. It is formed by bonding one hydrogen to the two empty bonds of the carbonyl group. It is a poisonous chemical. Its boiling point is -15 °C and its melting point is -21 °C. Formaldehyde is usually transported or stored as a 37% aqueous solution. This solution is called formalin. When water evaporates and separates from formalin under low pressure, paraformaldehyde is formed. It is a polymer and is a white solid substance with the formula HO (CH2O)xH (x is approximately 30). When this polymer is heated, it turns into gaseous formaldehyde. Therefore, it is a suitable source for obtaining gaseous formaldehyde. While polymer products can be obtained from pure formaldehyde, synthetic resins and plastics are also produced from phenol and casein.