Formaldehyde
| Chemical Name | Formaldehyde |
| Chemical Formula | CH2O |
| CAS# | 50-00-0 |
| IUPAC ID | Formaldehyde |
| EC Number | 200-001-8 |
| Appearance | A colourless gas with a characteristic pungent, irritating odor. It is stable at about 150 °C, but polymerizes when condensed to a liquid |
| Odour | Pungent |
| Flash Point | Not Applicable |
| Uses | Formaldehyde is widely used in the manufacturing of phenolic resins, artificial silk and cellulose esters, dyes, organic chemicals, glass mirrors, explosives; disinfectant for dwellings, ship, storage houses, utensils, clothes etc., as a germicide & fungicide for plants & vegetables, improving fastness of dyes on fabrics, tanning & preserving hides;, mordanting & water proofing fabrics; preserving & coagulating rubber latex; in embalming fluids |
Formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde and is also known by its synonyms name formalin or methanol. The common name of this substance comes from its similarity and relation to formic acid. Formaldehyde is an important precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds. It is mainly used in the production of industrial resins, for the manufacture of particle boards and in the coating industry.