Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (or methanal) is an organic chemical compound with the formula . It is the simplest aldehyde.

It is a colorless gas with a strong smell. Like other aldehydes, it is flammable and toxic..

Its main application is as a disinfectant. It is a biocide, this means it can kill most bacteria and fungi. It is also used to make dyes, to make textiles, wrinkle-free preservatives, explosives, and certain polymers. About 23 million tonnes (50 billion pounds) of formaldehyde was made worldwide in 2005.Günther Reuss, Walter Disteldorf, Armin Otto Gamer, Albrecht Hilt “Formaldehyde” in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. 

 References 

Category:Aldehydes