4 FORMALDEHYDE

Formalin (formaldehyde + methanol)

Formic aldehyde

Methanal

Methyl aldehyde

Formol

FORMALDEHYDE OTHER NAMES:

30.031 g/mol

Molecular Weight

-19 °C

Boiling Point

-118 °C

melting Point

1.067 (air = 1)

Density/Specific Gravity

1859

First created in

Wilhelm von Hofmann

Identified by 1868 by

Used as embalming agent

formaldehyde used as

FORMALDEHYDE

First commercial-grade particle board in 1940’s

Formalin (formaldehyde + methanol)

30-50% formaldehyde + 15% Methanol

○ Methanol (added to limit oxidation and polymerization)

Disinfectant

Tissue fixative

Embalming agent

USES

0.1ppm–20 ppm – irritate the eyes and mucus

30 mL – Death

Toxic dose:

Coagulation necrosis (“accidental cell death due to infarction)

Metabolism to formic acid

Mechanism of Toxicity:

Eye irritation, Watery eyes

Burning sensations

Tightness in chest, Cough, wheezing and pulmonary edema

Severe corrosion of esophagus and gastric area

Lethargy and coma

Metabolic acidosis

Signs and Symptoms:

NaHCO3 ○ Sodium bicarbonate

used when a patient experiences acidity or metabolic acidosis

Folic acid

Promotes conversion of formaldehyde to formate (version of formic acid that is easily excreted from t he body)

Hemodialysis

Note: Do not use syrup of ipecac and do not induce emesis

Decontamination

Silver mirror

Silver nitrate test

Gray precipitate

Nessler’s test

Brick red precipitate

Fehling’s test

Purple ring at the junction

Hehner’s Test

White precipitate

Hexamethylene Tetraamine

Red color

Phloroglucinol Test

Red color

Resorcinol Test

Deep blue color

Rimini’s Phenylhydrazine