252549
Formaldehyde solution
ACS reagent, 37 wt. % in H2O, contains 10-15% Methanol as stabilizer (to prevent polymerization)
Synonym(s):
Formalin
About This Item
grade
ACS reagent
Quality Level
vapor density
1.03 (vs air)
vapor pressure
52 mmHg ( 37 °C)
52 mmHg ( 37 °C)
form
liquid
autoignition temp.
572 °F
contains
10-15% Methanol as stabilizer (to prevent polymerization)
concentration
36.5-38.0%
37 wt. % in H2O
impurities
≤0.006 meq/g Titr. acid
ign. residue
≤0.005%
color
APHA: ≤10
refractive index
n20/D 1.3765
density
1.09 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
anion traces
chloride (Cl-): ≤5 ppm
sulfate (SO42-): ≤0.002%
cation traces
Fe: ≤5 ppm
heavy metals: ≤5 ppm (by ICP-OES)
suitability
suitable for manufacturing use (Laboratory chemicals)
SMILES string
[H]C([H])=O
InChI
1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2
InChI key
WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Looking for similar products? Visit Product Comparison Guide
Related Categories
General description
Application
Physical form
also commonly purchased with this product
Signal Word
Danger
Hazard Statements
Precautionary Statements
Hazard Classifications
Acute Tox. 2 Inhalation - Acute Tox. 3 Dermal - Acute Tox. 3 Oral - Carc. 1B - Eye Dam. 1 - Flam. Liq. 3 - Muta. 2 - Skin Corr. 1B - Skin Sens. 1 - STOT SE 1 - STOT SE 3
Target Organs
Eyes,Central nervous system, Respiratory system
Storage Class Code
3 - Flammable liquids
WGK
WGK 3
Flash Point(F)
132.8 °F - closed cup
Flash Point(C)
56 °C - closed cup
Regulatory Information
Choose from one of the most recent versions:
Certificates of Analysis (COA)
Sorry, we don't have COAs for this product available online at this time.
If you need assistance, please contact Customer Support.
Already Own This Product?
Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.
How does the storage temperature relate to shipping conditions?
The storage conditions that a Sigma-Aldrich catalog and label recommend for products are deliberately conservative. For many products, long-term storage at low temperatures will increase the time during which they are expected to remain in specification and therefore are labeled accordingly. Where short-term storage, shipping time frame, or exposure to conditions other than those recommended for long-term storage will not affect product quality, Sigma-Aldrich will ship at ambient temperature. The products sensitive to short-term exposure to conditions other than their recommended long-term storage are shipped on wet or dry ice. Ambient temperature shipping helps to control shipping costs for our customers. At any time, our customers can request wet- or dry-ice shipment, but the special handling is at customer expense if our product history indicates that the product is stable for regular shipment. See Shipping and Storage for more information.
What is the difference between formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde?
Paraformaldehyde is the polymeric form of formaldehyde. Paraformaldehyde is a solid, and formaldehyde is a gas. Formaldehyde solutions consist of formaldehyde gas dissolved in a solvent of some kind.
Which document(s) contains shelf-life or expiration date information for a given product?
If available for a given product, the recommended re-test date or the expiration date can be found on the Certificate of Analysis.
How do I get lot-specific information or a Certificate of Analysis?
The lot specific COA document can be found by entering the lot number above under the "Documents" section.
How do I find price and availability?
There are several ways to find pricing and availability for our products. Once you log onto our website, you will find the price and availability displayed on the product detail page. You can contact any of our Customer Sales and Service offices to receive a quote. USA customers: 1-800-325-3010 or view local office numbers.
What is the Department of Transportation shipping information for this product?
Transportation information can be found in Section 14 of the product's (M)SDS.To access the shipping information for this material, use the link on the product detail page for the product.
Do you offer any aqueous paraformaldehyde solutions?
Product No. 252549 is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde with methanol present to prevent polymerization of the formaldehyde to paraformaldehyde. Over time (e.g., if a lot of the methanol evaporates), the solution may precipitate the insoluble paraformaldehyde. To break up that polymer, gentle heating should be sufficient. The polymer form has very low solubility in water.
Why is Product No. 252549, Formaldehyde solution, stabilized with methanol?
The methanol serves to slow the formation of paraformaldehyde.
What is the difference between Formaldehyde solution Products 252549 and 533998?
The two products are the same chemically. However, the 252549 is designated as an ACS reagent grade. With this description additional specifications are included.
Do you offer 100% formaldehyde instead of solutions like Product No. 252549?
Formaldehyde in its pure form is a gas. The maximum concentration of formaldehyde in aqueous solution is about 37% by weight. This is equivalent to an approximately 13.3 M solution.
What is a common application for Product No. 252549, Formaldehyde solution?
Formaldehyde can be used in multiple applications in different fields. One common application is that this product is a common building block for the synthesis of more complex compounds and materials.
Is the concentration of Product No. 252549, Formaldehyde solution, expressed as a weight percent solution?
Yes, 37% is a reference to weight percent solution. Unless otherwise noted, this is the standard practice for reporting concentration by percent. In terms of volume percent, this solution would be approximately 40% by volume.
My question is not addressed here, how can I contact Technical Service for assistance?
Ask a Scientist here.
Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.
Contact Technical Service