Paraformaldehyde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paraformaldehyde

IUPAC name	Polyoxymethylene
Identifiers
CAS number	[30525-89-4]
PubChem	24898648
Properties
Molecular formula	(CH₂O)_n (n = 8 - 100)
Appearance	white crystalline solid
Density	0.88 g·cm⁻³ (20 ºC)
Melting point	120-170 °C
Solubility in water	low
Hazards
MSDS	Oxford MSDS
EU classification	Toxic (T); Corrosive (C)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Paraformaldehyde, also known as polyoxymethylene, is the condensation product of formaldehyde with a typical chain length of 8 - 100 units. Long chain-length (high molecular weight) paraformaldehyde is used as a thermoplastic and is known known as polyoxymethylene plastic (POM, Delrin, polyformaldehyde). Paraformaldehyde commonly has a slight odor of formaldehyde due to decomposition. Paraformaldehyde is a poly-acetal. Paraformaldehyde is used as fumigant, disinfectant, and fungicide, and for the preparation of pure formaldehyde.

1 Synthesis
2 Reactions
3 Toxicity
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Synthesis

Paraformaldehyde forms slowly in formaldehyde solutions (formaline) as a white precipitate, especially if stored in the cold. Formaline actually contains very little monomeric formaldehyde most of it forms short chains of polyformaldehyde. A few percent of methanol is often added as a stabilizer to limit the extent of polymerization.

[edit] Reactions

Paraformaldehyde can be depolymerized to formaldehyde gas by dry heating and to formaldehyde solution by water in the presence of acid or heat. The very pure formaldehyde solutions obtained in this way are used as a fixative for microscopy and histology.

Paraformaldehyde is flammable as it decomposes in the heat into the flammable gas formaldehyde.