Formaldehyde

Properties

Although formaldehyde is a gas at room temperature, it is readily soluble in water, and it is most commonly sold as a 37% solution in water called by trade names such as formalin or formol. In water, formaldehyde polymerizes, and formalin actually contains very little formaldehyde in the form of H2CO monomer. Usually, these solutions contain a few percent methanol to limit the extent of polymerization.

Related Topics:
Solution - Polymer - Methanol

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Formaldehyde exhibits most of the general chemical properties of the aldehydes, except that is generally more reactive than other aldehydes. Formaldehyde is a potent electrophile. It can participate in electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions with aromatic compounds and can undergo electrophilic addition reactions with alkenes. In the presence of basic catalysts, formaldehyde undergoes a Cannizaro reaction to produce formic acid and methanol.

Related Topics:
Electrophile - Electrophilic aromatic substitution - Aromatic compound - Electrophilic addition - Alkene - Basic - Catalyst - Cannizaro reaction - Formic acid

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Formaldehyde reversibly polymerizes to produce its cyclic trimer, 1,3,5-trioxane or the linear polymer polyoxymethylene. Formation of these substances makes formaldehyde's gas behavior differ substantially from the ideal gas law, especially at high pressure or low temperature.

Related Topics:
1,3,5-trioxane - Polyoxymethylene - Ideal gas law

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Formaldehyde is readily oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to form formic acid. Formaldehyde solutions must be kept tightly sealed to prevent this from happening in storage.

Related Topics:
Oxidized - Formic acid

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