24286-05-3

Basic information

• Product Name: (~2~H_1_)formaldehyde
• CAS NO: 24286-05-3
• Molecular Formula: CHO
• Molecular Weight: 31.0321
• Mol File: 24286-05-3.mol
• Article Data: 3

Chemical Properties

• Density: 0.707g/cm³
• Vapor Pressure: 3460mmHg at 25°C
• Refractive Index: 1.235
• CAS DataBase Reference: (~2~H_1_)formaldehyde(CAS DataBase Reference)
• NIST Chemistry Reference: (~2~H_1_)formaldehyde(24286-05-3)
• EPA Substance Registry System: (~2~H_1_)formaldehyde(24286-05-3)

Safety Data

• Hazardous Substances Data: 24286-05-3(Hazardous Substances Data)

Usage

General Description

Formaldehyde, also known as methanal, is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is commonly used in the production of building materials and household products. It is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of resins and adhesives, and is also used as a disinfectant and preservative. Formaldehyde is highly reactive and can easily form bonds with other chemicals, making it a versatile building block for a wide range of products. However, exposure to formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and high levels of exposure can lead to more severe health effects, including respiratory issues and cancer. As a result, the use of formaldehyde in consumer products is regulated in many countries to limit human exposure.

Upstream product

• 201230-82-2 carbon monoxide 
• 811-98-3 d⁽⁴⁾-methanol 
• 4122-13-8 1-deuterio-acetaldehyde 

Relevant articles and documents

Formation of Glyoxylic Acid in Interstellar Ices: A Key Entry Point for Prebiotic Chemistry

With nearly 200 molecules detected in interstellar and circumstellar environments, the identification of the biologically relevant α-keto carboxylic acid, glyoxylic acid (HCOCOOH), is still elusive. Herein, the formation of glyoxylic acid via cosmic-ray driven, non-equilibrium chemistry in polar interstellar ices of carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) at 5 K via barrierless recombination of formyl (HCO) and hydroxycarbonyl radicals (HOCO) is reported. In temperature-programmed desorption experiments, the subliming neutral molecules were selectively photoionized and identified based on the ionization energy and distinct mass-to-charge ratios in combination with isotopically labeled experiments exploiting reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry. These studies unravel a key reaction path to glyoxylic acid, an organic molecule formed in interstellar ices before subliming in star-forming regions like SgrB2(N), thus providing a critical entry point to prebiotic organic synthesis.

Photo-tautomerization of acetaldehyde to vinyl alcohol: A potential route to tropospheric acids

Current atmospheric models underestimate the production of organic acids in the troposphere. We report a detailed kinetic model of the photochemistry of acetaldehyde (ethanal) under tropospheric conditions. The rate constants are benchmarked to collision-free experiments, where extensive photo-isomerization is observed upon irradiation with actinic ultraviolet radiation (310 to 330 nanometers). The model quantitatively reproduces the experiments and shows unequivocally that keto-enol photo-tautomerization, forming vinyl alcohol (ethenol), is the crucial first step. When collisions at atmospheric pressure are included, the model quantitatively reproduces previously reported quantum yields for photodissociation at all pressures and wavelengths. The model also predicts that 21 ± 4% of the initially excited acetaldehyde forms stable vinyl alcohol, a known precursor to organic acid formation, which may help to account for the production of organic acids in the troposphere.