Formaldehyde

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Formaldehyde, also known as methanal (or formalin which is a solution of the gas in water/methanol), is the simplest aldehyde with the formula CH2O. It used to be found in most biology labs used as a preservative for dissection specimens, but this use has fallen into disfavor due to its carcinogenic nature.

Properties

Chemical

Formaldehyde is a good electrophile. It is relatively easily oxidized into formic acid and thus formic acid is often a contaminant in fomaldehyde solutions.

Physical

Formaldehyde is a gas at STP and is usually supplied in a 37% aqueous solution. Formaldehyde has an extremely characteristic and pungent odor; Sciencemadness user ave369 characterizes the smell of formaldehyde as "stinging".

Availability

A 37% solution of formaldehyde is cheaply available from suppliers such as Elemental Scientific.

It can also be purchased from agricultural and veterinary stores, as a disinfectant.

Some countries limit the sale of formaldehyde due to its carcinogenic effects.

Preparation

The decomposition of 1,2,3-trioxane in strong acidic conditions yields formaldehyde.

However a better option exists, which involves the thermal decompostion of calcium formate which gives off formaldehyde as a gas which must be led into water to form a solution.

Formaldehyde can also be prepared by placing red hot copper into methanol, however this method is not economically viable for the amateur and produces lower quality formaldehyde. You also need large amounts of copper.

Projects

Formaldehyde can be used along with ammonia to produce hexamine, a solid fuel used for camping and a precursor to many explosives including RDX. The mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated (37%) formaldehyde is known as Marquis reagent, a versatile drug testing reagent. Paraformaldehyde can also be formed although the conditions of this reaction are usually out of reach of the amateur, although it does slowly form when left in air for long periods of time.

  • Synthesis of Phenol Formaldehyde and Resorcinol Formaldehyde gels

Handling

Safety

Formaldehyde is toxic, with a LD50 of 100mg/kg and is carcinogenic. It will damage the optic nerves and cause blindness (methanol, being metabolized to formaldehyde, will also do this). Pure gaseous formaldehyde is highly flammable. Care must be taken to ensure formaldehyde is not mixed and heated with acetaldehyde as this will produce the dangerous substance acrolein. Formaldehyde will react with hydrochloric acid to create highly carcinogenic chloromethyl ethers.

Storage

In closed bottles, away from any heat source. Due to its volatility and carcinogenity, it's best to keep it in a separate cabinet.

Disposal

Formaldehyde can be neutralized with sodium hydroxide, reaction that generates sodium formate and methanol.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads