Formaldehyde

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    50-00-0

    Molecular formula
    CH2O

    SMILES
    C=O

    Safety labels

    Corrosive
    Corrosive

    Acute Toxic
    Acute Toxic

    Health Hazard
    Health

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Odorless 77.43%
    Pungent 46.3%
    Sharp 34.0%
    Fruity 29.29%
    Ethereal 22.8%
    Bitter 22.78%
    Burnt 19.85%
    Almond 18.97%
    Alliaceous 18.18%
    Gassy 18.13%

     

    Flavor
    Pungent 44.29%
    Odorless 39.86%
    Rotten 26.83%
    Mustard 25.84%
    Formyl 24.2%
    Almond 22.34%
    Vinegar 22.02%
    Cherry 21.84%
    Sulfur 21.83%
    Bitter 21.6%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

    Odor threshold

    • Odor Threshold Low: 0.02 [ppm]. Odor Threshold High: 1.9 [ppm]. Odor threshold from CHEMINFO. In HSDB: odor threshold = 0.5-1 ppm. Odor threshold estimated at less than 0.5 ppm
    • Odor Threshold Low: 0.02 [ppm]. Odor Threshold High: 1.9 [ppm]. Odor threshold from CHEMINFO
    • 0.5 to 1.0 ppm
    • Detection: media= water: 4.99x10+1 ppm /Chemically pure/
    • Detection: media= water: 2.50x10+1 ppm /Purity not specified/
    • Recognition: media= air: 1.00 ppm /Chemically pure/
    • For more Odor Threshold (Complete) data for FORMALDEHYDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    1.2

    pKa est.
    6.05 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    30.026 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -134 °F (NIOSH, 2024)
    • -134 °F for anhydrous form (EPA, 1998)
    • -92 °C
    • -134 °F

    Boiling point

    • -6 °F at 760 mmHg (NIOSH, 2024)
    • -3.1 °F at 760 mmHg ; commercial aqueous formaldehyde boils at 205 °F (EPA, 1998)
    • 214 °F at 760 mmHg (NIOSH, 2024)
    • -19.1 °C
    • -19.5 °C
    • Boiling point: - 19.1 °C /Formaldehyde 37% uninhibited/
    • -20 °C
    • 98 °C
    • -6 °F
    • 214 °F

    Flash point

    • -7.36 ˚C est.
    • 140 °F for 40% solution (EPA, 1998)
    • 185 °F (NIOSH, 2024)
    • Exposure limits are "as formaldehyde." 85 °C
    • 185 °F (85 °C) (Closed cup) /Gas/
    • 122 °F (50 °C) (Closed cup) /Formaldehyde 37%, 15% methanol/
    • 185 °F (85 °C) (Closed cup) /Formaldehyde 37%, methanol-free; gas/
    • 83 °C, closed cup, 37% aqueous soln- methanol free; 50 °C, closed cup, aqueous soln with 15% methanol
    • 83 °C c.c.
    • varies from 122-141 °F
    • 185 °F
    • NA (Gas)

    Solubility expt.

    • Miscible (NIOSH, 2024)
    • Miscible (NIOSH, 2024)
    • 400000 mg/L (at 20 °C)
    • In water, 4.00X10+5 mg/L at 20 °C
    • In water, miscible at 25 °C
    • In water, 95 weight % at 20 °C
    • Soluble in ethanol and chloroform; miscible with ether, acetone and benzene
    • 400 mg/mL at 20 °C
    • Solubility in water: very good
    • Solubility in water: miscible
    • Miscible

  • Synonyms

    • formaldehyde
    • formalin
    • methanal
    • Paraformaldehyde
    • 50-00-0
    • formol
    • Oxomethane
    • Paraform
    • Methylene oxide
    • Formic aldehyde
    • Oxymethylene
    • Superlysoform
    • Lysoform
    • Methyl aldehyde
    • Fannoform
    • Formalith
    • 30525-89-4
    • Formalina
    • Methaldehyde
    • Oxomethylene
    • Morbicid
    • Karsan
    • Formaldehyd
    • Formaline
    • Aldehyde formique
    • FYDE
    • Formaldehyde, gas
    • Aldeide formica
    • Oplossingen
    • Formalin 40
    • Dormol
    • Rcra waste number U122
    • Aldehyd mravenci
    • Formalin-loesungen
    • Formalaz
    • Caswell No. 465
    • NCI-C02799
    • CH2O
    • UN 2209 (formalin)
    • Formaldehyde (gas)
    • UN 1198
    • Formaline [German]
    • Formalina [Italian]
    • Oplossingen [Dutch]
    • HCHO
    • CCRIS 315
    • FORMYL GROUP
    • HSDB 164
    • Fordor
    • NSC 298885
    • CHEBI:16842
    • Aldehyd mravenci [Czech]
    • Aldeide formica [Italian]
    • AI3-26806
    • Aldehyde formique [French]
    • BFV
    • Formalin-loesungen [German]
    • Formaldehyd [Czech, Polish]
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 043001
    • NSC-298885
    • Formaldehyde (USP)
    • Formaldehyde [USP]
    • Aldehyde formique [ISO-French]
    • DTXSID7020637
    • UNII-1HG84L3525
    • EINECS 200-001-8
    • UN1198
    • UN2209
    • RCRA waste no. U122
    • 1HG84L3525
    • EC 200-001-8
    • MFCD00003274
    • NSC298885
    • DSSTox_CID_637
    • FORMALDEHYDE (II)
    • FORMALDEHYDE [II]
    • FORMALDEHYDE (IARC)
    • FORMALDEHYDE [IARC]
    • DSSTox_RID_82549
    • Paraformic aldehyde
    • DSSTox_GSID_47796
    • Formaldehyd (CZECH, POLISH)
    • Aldehyde formique (ISO-French)
    • Formaldehido
    • Veracur
    • MFCD00133991
    • Methan 21
    • Formic aldehyde
    • carbonyl
    • formaidehyde
    • formaldeyde
    • formaldhyde
    • methanon
    • paraformaldehyd
    • paraformaldehye
    • Formadehyde
    • Formaldehye
    • Formalinum
    • Durine
    • paraformaidehyde
    • Formaldehyde (37% w/w aq. soln., Stabilized 7-8% of Methanol)
    • Nasal Catarrh
    • para formaldehyde
    • paraform-aldehyde
    • Para-formaldehyde
    • Sur-Hoof
    • Formaldehyde Solution (36.5 - 38% in Water) (Stabilized with ~10-15% Methanol)
    • F-gen
    • Hyperband (TN)
    • Formalin [JAN]
    • Daminozide metabolite
    • CARBONMONOXIDE
    • HCOH
    • 28 - Formaldehyde
    • Floguard 1015
    • Formalin (JP18)
    • 53026-80-5
    • CARBON-MONOXIDE
    • Formaldehyde; Methanal
    • Hercules 37M6-8
    • H2CO
    • long-chain fatty aldehyde
    • WLN: VHH
    • Formaldehyde [BSI:ISO]
    • FORMALDEHYDE [MI]
    • Paraformaldehyde (JP17)
    • bmse000256
    • Epitope ID:116196

  • Applications

    Formaldehyde is widely used as a chemical intermediate and crosslinking agent in polymer and resin systems. It serves as a key building block for phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, as well as melamine-formaldehyde resins, and related binders used in wood-based panels and composites (plywood, particleboard, fiberboard). It acts as a crosslinking/curing agent in coatings, inks, and adhesives, improving hardness, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. It also functions as a fixative in histology and microscopy and, in certain formulations, as a disinfectant/biocide in industrial and laboratory environments. Additionally, it serves as a versatile intermediate for the manufacture of specialty resins and plastics and as a precursor for textile finishing resins to provide crease resistance.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 109.27
    methanol 215.31
    isopropanol 65.91
    water 102.16
    ethyl acetate 51.76
    n-propanol 67.18
    acetone 96.83
    n-butanol 49.56
    acetonitrile 159.36
    DMF 297.49
    toluene 8.13
    isobutanol 46.01
    1,4-dioxane 83.66
    methyl acetate 88.41
    THF 62.86
    2-butanone 55.02
    n-pentanol 24.55
    sec-butanol 47.4
    n-hexane 4.75
    ethylene glycol 121.23
    NMP 216.59
    cyclohexane 8.77
    DMSO 181.21
    n-butyl acetate 22.99
    n-octanol 15.96
    chloroform 94.83
    n-propyl acetate 22.49
    acetic acid 314.76
    dichloromethane 114.96
    cyclohexanone 54.01
    propylene glycol 54.39
    isopropyl acetate 19.61
    DMAc 214.84
    2-ethoxyethanol 63.66
    isopentanol 30.98
    n-heptane 6.43
    ethyl formate 50.68
    1,2-dichloroethane 59.95
    n-hexanol 22.29
    2-methoxyethanol 160.4
    isobutyl acetate 11.55
    tetrachloromethane 28.23
    n-pentyl acetate 13.32
    transcutol 120.34
    n-heptanol 12.47
    ethylbenzene 5.57
    MIBK 14.54
    2-propoxyethanol 49.07
    tert-butanol 67.45
    MTBE 30.39
    2-butoxyethanol 27.21
    propionic acid 124.08
    o-xylene 11.18
    formic acid 255.74
    diethyl ether 38.02
    m-xylene 6.69
    p-xylene 9.36
    chlorobenzene 20.8
    dimethyl carbonate 28.16
    n-octane 2.48
    formamide 256.12
    cyclopentanone 67.95
    2-pentanone 30.67
    anisole 20.84
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 30.0
    gamma-butyrolactone 100.02
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 73.52
    pyridine 72.86
    3-pentanone 35.26
    furfural 109.11
    n-dodecane 2.22
    diethylene glycol 76.1
    diisopropyl ether 8.45
    tert-amyl alcohol 52.05
    acetylacetone 37.06
    n-hexadecane 2.35
    acetophenone 24.33
    methyl propionate 53.48
    isopentyl acetate 17.41
    trichloroethylene 104.53
    n-nonanol 13.78
    cyclohexanol 42.22
    benzyl alcohol 23.03
    2-ethylhexanol 15.21
    isooctanol 10.37
    dipropyl ether 19.95
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 25.73
    ethyl lactate 20.42
    propylene carbonate 44.69
    n-methylformamide 180.76
    2-pentanol 27.21
    n-pentane 6.6
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 32.9
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 24.52
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 36.96
    mesitylene 5.63
    ε-caprolactone 51.27
    p-cymene 8.58
    epichlorohydrin 78.57
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 49.52
    2-aminoethanol 111.15
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 161.7
    sulfolane 108.02
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 4.14
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 51.65
    n-hexyl acetate 20.13
    isooctane 1.95
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 41.55
    sec-butyl acetate 12.36
    tert-butyl acetate 17.45
    decalin 3.79
    glycerin 105.17
    diglyme 81.72
    acrylic acid 147.74
    isopropyl myristate 9.04
    n-butyric acid 82.53
    acetyl acetate 35.75
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 12.51
    ethyl propionate 23.47
    nitromethane 332.31
    1,2-diethoxyethane 29.23
    benzonitrile 31.33
    trioctyl phosphate 8.86
    1-bromopropane 26.91
    gamma-valerolactone 91.05
    n-decanol 10.57
    triethyl phosphate 15.97
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 11.35
    propionitrile 70.69
    vinylene carbonate 48.75
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 111.24
    DMS 29.33
    cumene 5.97
    2-octanol 8.12
    2-hexanone 18.12
    octyl acetate 13.21
    limonene 13.98
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 80.98
    ethyl orthosilicate 14.41
    tributyl phosphate 11.26
    diacetone alcohol 30.95
    N,N-dimethylaniline 20.2
    acrylonitrile 112.09
    aniline 29.2
    1,3-propanediol 101.81
    bromobenzene 16.55
    dibromomethane 63.4
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 74.15
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 16.7
    tetrabutyl urea 18.26
    diisobutyl methanol 9.92
    2-phenylethanol 18.53
    styrene 8.66
    dioctyl adipate 17.6
    dimethyl sulfate 56.47
    ethyl butyrate 23.06
    methyl lactate 41.19
    butyl lactate 15.39
    diethyl carbonate 18.78
    propanediol butyl ether 28.8
    triethyl orthoformate 18.22
    p-tert-butyltoluene 7.84
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 25.46
    morpholine 101.41
    tert-butylamine 41.12
    n-dodecanol 8.68
    dimethoxymethane 73.93
    ethylene carbonate 35.06
    cyrene 34.26
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 22.15
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 14.58
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 32.5
    4-methylpyridine 47.71
    dibutyl ether 14.21
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 9.92
    DEF 77.23
    dimethyl isosorbide 45.56
    tetrachloroethylene 70.38
    eugenol 27.06
    triacetin 30.37
    span 80 28.71
    1,4-butanediol 37.76
    1,1-dichloroethane 51.73
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 19.41
    methyl formate 114.36
    2-methyl-1-butanol 35.17
    n-decane 3.31
    butyronitrile 47.41
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 14.88
    1-chlorooctane 9.4
    1-chlorotetradecane 4.6
    n-nonane 3.36
    undecane 2.59
    tert-butylcyclohexane 3.59
    cyclooctane 2.88
    cyclopentanol 51.62
    tetrahydropyran 45.22
    tert-amyl methyl ether 26.73
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 61.86
    1-hexene 10.31
    2-isopropoxyethanol 35.28
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 154.61
    methyl butyrate 32.04

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction