Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde ( (listen) fer-mal-duh-hahyd, also (listen) fawr-) (systematic name methanal) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O (H−CHO). The pure compound is a pungent-smelling colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde (refer to section Forms below), hence it is stored as an aqueous solution (formalin). It is the simplest of the aldehydes (R−CHO). 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.

Synonyms

FORMALIN I Methanal I Oxomethane

Chemical Formula

CH2O

CAS Number

50-00-0