formaldehyde
Sign in to saveFormaldehyde ( , ) (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.
AI overview
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.
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 ().