Formamide

Reported in EPA TSCA Inventory. EPA Genetic Toxicology Program.

OSHA PEL: TWA 20 ppm; STEL 30 ppm
ACGIH TLV: TWA 10 ppm (skin)

The IUPAC name of this chemical is formamide. With the CAS registry number 75-12-7, it is also named as Amid kyseliny mravenci. The product's categories are FM - FZAnalytical Standards; Alphabetical Listings; E-FAlphabetic; NMR Reference Standards; NMR Stable Isotopes; Spectroscopy; Stable Isotopes. It is colorless liquid with a faint odor of ammonia, which is miscible with water, alcohol, ethylene glycol, acetone, acetic acid, glycerin and phenol, and almost insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, etc. Formamide will begin to partially decompose into carbon monoxide and ammonia at 180°C. When heated strongly, formamide decomposes to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and water vapor. Reacts with water very slowly at room temperature, but rate is accelerated by acids and bases at elevated temperatures. Additionally, this chemical should be sealed in the container and stored in the cool and dry place.

The other characteristics of this product can be summarized as: (1)ACD/LogP: -1.51; (2)# of Rule of 5 Violations: 0; (3)ACD/LogD (pH 5.5): -1.51; (4)ACD/LogD (pH 7.4): -1.51; (5)ACD/BCF (pH 5.5): 1; (6)ACD/BCF (pH 7.4): 1; (7)ACD/KOC (pH 5.5): 3.59; (8)ACD/KOC (pH 7.4): 3.59; (9)#H bond acceptors: 2; (10)#H bond donors: 2; (11)#Freely Rotating Bonds: 0; (12)Index of Refraction: 1.369; (13)Molar Refractivity: 10.4 cm³; (14)Molar Volume: 46 cm³; (15)Polarizability: 4.12×10^-24 cm³; (16)Surface Tension: 32.4 dyne/cm; (17)Enthalpy of Vaporization: 44.68 kJ/mol; (18)Vapour Pressure: 0.192 mmHg at 25°C; (19)Tautomer Count: 2; (20)Exact Mass: 45.021464; (21)MonoIsotopic Mass: 45.021464; (22)Topological Polar Surface Area: 43.1; (23)Heavy Atom Count: 3; (24)Complexity: 12.3.

Preparation of Formamide: It can be obtained by the aminolysis of methyl formate.
HCOOCH₃ + NH₃ → HCONH₂ + CH₃OH 
In the past, formic acid was reacted with ammonia to produce ammonium formate, which was turned into formamide by heating.

Uses of Formamide: It is used primarily for manufacturing sulfa drugs and synthesizing vitamins and as a softener for paper and fiber. It is also a constituent of cryoprotectant vitrification mixtures used for cryopreservation of tissues and organs. In addition, its pure form can used as a solvent. And it is also used as an RNA stabiliser in gel electrophoresis by deionizing RNA. Besides, Formamide can react with piperidine to get 1-formyl-piperidine. The yield is 87%.

When you are using this chemical, please be cautious about it as the following:
It is irritating to respiratory system and skin. It also can cause serious damage to the eyes and may cause harm to the unborn child. So people should not breathe vapour. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. If you want to contact this product, you must wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection. In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label whenever possible.) 

People can use the following data to convert to the molecule structure. 
1. SMILES:O=CN
2. InChI:InChI=1/CH3NO/c2-1-3/h1H,(H2,2,3) 
3. InChIKey:ZHNUHDYFZUAESO-UHFFFAOYAQ

The following are the toxicity data which has been tested.