File:Structural_formula_of_formaldehyde.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
formaldehyde
Sign in to saveAlso known as Formic aldehyde, Formaline, Fannoform, Chlodithane, Formalith, Methaldehyde, Formalina, Chlodithan
Formaldehyde ( , ) (systematic name methanal) is a pungent colorless gas mainly used in the production of industrial resins, such as for particle board, coatings, plastics, pulp, paper, synthetic fibers, and textiles. A ~5% solution in water of formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant and fumigant in industrial, agricultural, and healthcare settings, and a ~37% solution is used to preserve tissue samples in labs. In 2024, the global production of formaldehyde was estimated at 26 million tons per year, and is a precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds.
Formaldehyde is a pungent, colorless gas that is widely used to make industrial resins for products like particle board, plastics, and textiles, and also serves as a disinfectant and preservative in medical and laboratory settings. With global production reaching 26 million tons annually, it is a crucial precursor chemical that helps create many other materials and compounds used across industries.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Chemical data
- Formula
- CH2O
- Molecular weight
- 30.026 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- formaldehyde
- SMILES
- C=O
- InChIKey
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- 1.2
- Polar surface area
- 17.1 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 0
- H-bond acceptors
- 1
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
41,871 papers- Formaldehyde.ReviewJournal of applied toxicology : JAT · 1983Farooqui MYDOI: 10.1002/jat.2550030510
- Formaldehyde stress.ReviewScience China. Life sciences · 2010He R, Lu J, Miao JDOI: 10.1007/s11427-010-4112-3
- Formaldehyde toxicity.ReviewArchives of pathology & laboratory medicine · 1979Loomis TA
- What are the DNA lesions underlying formaldehyde toxicity?ReviewDNA repair · 2024Benedict B, Kristensen SM, Duxin JPDOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103667
- Formaldehyde: evidence of carcinogenicity.ReviewAmerican Industrial Hygiene Association journal · 1981Blackwell M, Kang H, Thomas A et al.
- Relationship between formaldehyde exposure, respiratory irritant effects and cancers: a review of reviews.ReviewPublic health · 2023La Torre G, Vitello T, Cocchiara RA et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.03.009
- Formaldehyde in brain: an overlooked player in neurodegeneration?ReviewJournal of neurochemistry · 2013Tulpule K, Dringen RDOI: 10.1111/jnc.12356
- Formaldehyde Exposure of Aquaculture Workers in Korea.Journal of agromedicine · 2024Lee WJ, Kim KYDOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2024.2339513
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 30.011
Show 17 more facts
- Commons category
- Formaldehyde
- chemical formula
- CH₂O
- time-weighted average exposure limit
- 0.02
- canonical SMILES
- C=O
- NIOSH Pocket Guide ID
- 0293
- ceiling exposure limit
- 0.123
- immediately dangerous to life or health
- 24.6
- melting point
- -92
- boiling point
- -19.1
- vapor pressure
- 1
- lower flammable limit
- 7
- upper flammable limit
- 73
- ionization energy
- 10.87
- short-term exposure limit
- 2.46
- standard enthalpy of formation
- -115.9
- density
- 0.8153
- electric dipole moment
- 2.332
Sources (8)
via Wikidata · CC0
~30 min read
Article
36 sectionsContents
- Forms
- Structure and bonding
- Occurrence
- Atmospheric
- Sources
- Role in atmospheric chemistry
- Remote monitoring
- Environmental exposure
- Interstellar formaldehyde
- Synthesis and industrial production
- Laboratory synthesis
- Industry
- Biochemistry
- Organic chemistry
- Polymerization and hydration
- Cross-linking reactions
- Oxidation and reduction
- Hydroxymethylation and chloromethylation
- Other reactions
- Uses
- Industrial applications
- Niche uses
- Disinfectant and biocide
- Tissue fixative and embalming agent
- Drug testing
- Photography
- Safety
- Chronic inhalation
- Acute irritation and allergic reaction
- Other routes
- Contaminant in food
- Regulation
- See also
- References
- Notes
- External links
Formaldehyde ( , ) (systematic name methanal) is a pungent colorless gas mainly used in the production of industrial resins, such as for particle board, coatings, plastics, pulp, paper, synthetic fibers, and textiles. A ~5% solution in water of formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant and fumigant in industrial, agricultural, and healthcare settings, and a ~37% solution is used to preserve tissue samples in labs. In 2024, the global production of formaldehyde was estimated at 26 million tons per year, and is a precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds.
It is an organic compound with the chemical formula and structure . The gas spontaneously polymerizes into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as a ~37% aqueous solution known as formalin, which consists mainly of the hydrate . It is the simplest of the aldehydes ().
Gallery (25)
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