Formaldehyde Safety Guide
What is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde, also known as formalin, methanal, and methyl aldehyde, is an aldehyde, a type of volatile organic compound. It is a natural metabolic byproduct, but in larger concentrations can be toxic, and is used as a fumigant, disinfectant, and fungicide. It also has other uses in industrial production of products such as paper, plywood, and some resin and as a preservative in some household goods including antiseptics and other pharmaceuticals. Formaldehyde has the CAS Number 50-00-0. Notable Properties of Formaldehyde Under normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions, formaldehyde is a colorless gas. It has a highly pungent odor. When formaldehyde is dissolved in water, forming an aqueous solution, it is known as formalin. Formalin is a colorless liquid. It has the same highly pungent odor as gaseous formaldehyde. Formaldehyde readily self-polymerizes, most commonly forming the solid paraformaldehyde. What Makes Formaldehyde Hazardous? There ar...