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Formaldehyde is used in various preservatives due to its naturally occurring property. It is a colorless gas and highly toxic poison which is absorbed well by inhalation. When we come in contact with a solution of formaldehyde we may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.
| Table of Contents |
Key Terms: Chemical Reaction, Preservatives, Methanol, Organic Compound, Reactive Molecule, Aldehyded
What Is Formaldehyde?
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Formaldehyde also known as methanal, is an organic compound, which is the simplest of the aldehydes made of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Formaldehyde is a reactive molecule and comes first in the series of aliphatic aldehydes.
Formaldehyde is mostly described as a gas, but it is also presented dissolved in water or other solvents.
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| Nucleophilic Substitution | Freidel Crafts Acetylation | Transesterification |
| Gatterman Koch Reaction | Classification of Organic Compounds | Clemenson Reduction Reaction |
Uses Of Formaldehyde
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The uses of formaldehyde are as follows:
- Formaldehyde is also used to produce a huge product, like building materials.
- Formaldehyde is used in agriculture and medicine where disinfectants, fungicides, fumigants, and preservatives are made up of formaldehyde.
- Formaldehyde is used in the production of resins.
- The resins made up of formaldehyde are used as the finishers to make fabrics crease-resistant.
Physical properties of formaldehyde
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The major physical properties of formaldehyde are as specified:
- The odor of formaldehyde is very suffocating to smell.
- Formaldehyde’s covalent bond unit is 1.
- Formaldehyde is a colorless gas.
- The hydrogen bond acceptor is 1.
- Formaldehyde is soluble in water and acetone.
- The complexity of formaldehyde is 2.
Chemical Properties Of Formaldehyde
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The major chemical properties of formaldehyde are as specified:
- When formaldehyde is reacted with ammonia it forms formamidine and water.
| 6HCHO + 4NH3 → (CH2)6N4 + 6H2O |
- When formaldehyde is reacted with any base like sodium hydroxide it forms sodium formate and methanol.
| 2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH3OH |
Things To Remember
- Formaldehyde is an organic compound.
- Formaldehyde is a reactive molecule and comes first in the series of aliphatic aldehydes.
- Formaldehyde is also used to produce a huge product, like building materials.
- Formaldehyde is used in the production of resins.
- Formaldehyde is soluble in water and acetone.
- The complexity of formaldehyde is 2.
- When formaldehyde is reacted with ammonia it forms formamidine and water.
Also Read:
| Chapter Related Topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Reaction | Chemical Use in Food Preservatives | Antimicrobial Resistance |
| Formaldehyde | Cannizzaro Reaction | Polymerization |
Previous Year Questions
Sample Questions
Ques. Is formaldehyde used in health care? (2 Marks)
Ans. Formaldehyde manufactures anti-infective drugs, hard-gel capsules, and vaccines. It is used to inactivate viruses, so they are unable to cause diseases like influenza.
Ques. why do we count formaldehyde as a good preservative? (2 Marks)
Ans. Formaldehyde is counted as a good preservative due to its combination of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon and its anti-bacterial properties. So, it is widely used as a preservative.
Ques. Can we use formaldehyde in the construction of buildings? (3 Marks)
Ans. Yes, formaldehyde can be used and it is in use while constructing buildings. Resins are used in manufacturing engineered and composite wood products which are extensively used in countertops, cabinetry, furniture, stair systems, shelving, wall sheathing, flooring, support beams, and several other structures and household furnishings.
Ques. Why do we use formaldehyde as a vaccine? (2 Marks)
Ans. Formaldehyde is used to inactivate viruses like polio and to detoxify bacterial toxins, such as the toxin used to create diphtheria vaccines.
Ques. What is formaldehyde? (3 Marks)
Ans. Formaldehyde also known as methanal, is an organic compound, which is the simplest of the aldehydes made of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Formaldehyde is a reactive molecule and comes first in the series of aliphatic aldehydes.
Formaldehyde is mostly described as a gas, but it is also presented dissolved in water or other solvents. Formaldehyde is used in a wide range due to its natural occurring property. The major use of formaldehyde is as a preservative due to its anti-bacterial properties.
Ques. List some major uses of formaldehyde. (4 Marks)
Ans. Uses of formaldehyde are as follows:
- Formaldehyde is also used to produce huge products, like building materials.
- Formaldehyde is used in agriculture and medicine where disinfectants, fungicides, fumigants, and preservatives are made up of formaldehyde.
- Formaldehyde is used in the production of resins.
- The resins made up of formaldehyde are used as the finishers to make fabrics crease-resistant.
Ques. State five physical properties of formaldehyde. (5 Marks)
Ans. The major physical properties of formaldehyde are as specified:
- The odor of formaldehyde is very suffocating to smell.
- Formaldehyde’s covalent bond unit is 1.
- Formaldehyde is a colorless gas.
- The hydrogen bond acceptor is 1.
- Formaldehyde is soluble in water and acetone.
Ques. What are the chemical properties of formaldehyde? (4 Marks)
Ans. The major chemical properties of formaldehyde are as specified:
- When formaldehyde is reacted with ammonia it forms formamidine and water.
6HCHO + 4NH3 → (CH2)6N4 + 6H2O
- When formaldehyde is reacted with any base like sodium hydroxide it forms sodium formate and methanol.
2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH3OH
Ques. What happens when formaldehyde reacts with any base sodium hydroxide? (3 Marks)
Ans. When formaldehyde is reacted with any base like sodium hydroxide it forms sodium formate and methanol.
2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH3OH
Ques. Is formaldehyde a gas? (3 Marks)
Ans. Formaldehyde is mostly described as a gas, but it is also presented dissolved in water or other solvents.
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