Formaldehyde is also known as formic aldehyde.
The Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), in its dictionary , indicates that the term formaldehyde is born from the contraction of two concepts: formic and aldehyde . An aldehyde is an organic compound that arises during the oxidation of certain alcohols, while the idea of formic is associated with formic acid (a fluid with a pungent aroma secreted by ants and used industrially).
Formaldehyde, also known as formic aldehyde , is a gas produced when methyl alcohol is oxidized. Methyl alcohol , on the other hand, is the alcohol that contains a carbon atom in its molecule.
Characteristics of formaldehyde
Colorless, flammable and highly volatile, formaldehyde is characterized by its pungent odor. Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, this compound formed by carbon , oxygen and hydrogen shows a marked solubility in esters and water .
In this sense, it is interesting to note that formalin is a 40% aqueous solution of formaldehyde. Sometimes methyl alcohol is included to stabilize the solution.
When oxidized, formaldehyde initially generates formic acid . Then, in a second instance, it promotes the production of carbon dioxide and water .
Formaldehyde is used in glues and resins used in furniture manufacturing.
Your discovery
The Russian chemist Aleksandr Butlerov described formaldehyde in 1859 , being the first to do so. However, he made a mistake when establishing the formula , mentioning it as C4H4O4 .
It was not until a decade later that the German August Wilhelm von Hofmann achieved the correct identification . Thus it was postulated that the formula of formaldehyde is CH2O .
Uses of formaldehyde
The production of numerous frequently used articles and objects requires the use of formaldehyde. In the final product, however, only a tiny amount of the compound , or even none at all, remains.
Medicines and vaccines are developed with formaldehyde since it contributes to the inactivation of viruses , for example. The characteristics of this aldehyde mean that it is also used to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and to reduce the presence of microorganisms in different articles.
Formaldehyde, on the other hand, is used to make resins and glues used in coatings and furniture. It is even present in brake pads and car tires.
Its effect on health
It is important to mention that humans, animals and plants, among other forms of life, generate formaldehyde as part of their metabolism . That is to say, it is a substance that living beings produce naturally. It is also present in the atmosphere .
There are individuals who are regularly exposed to formaldehyde by absorbing liquids that contain it through the skin or by inhaling it. Among them, certain medical specialists and laboratory assistants can be named.
According to the National Cancer Institute of the United States , exposure to a high level of formaldehyde can influence the development of nasopharyngeal cancer , nasal cavity cancer , paranasal sinus cancer and myeloid leukemia .
However, it was determined that the link between formaldehyde and cancer is only established in very extensive and significant exposures via inhalation. That is why the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has indicated that, with exposure considered habitual or normal, formaldehyde does not constitute a risk of contracting cancer.