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Substance Name: Formaldehyde [USP]
RN: 50-00-0
UNII: 1HG84L3525
InChIKey: WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Note

  • A highly reactive aldehyde gas formed by oxidation or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. In solution, it has a wide range of uses: in the manufacture of resins and textiles, as a disinfectant, and as a laboratory fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde solution (formalin) is considered a hazardous compound, and its vapor toxic. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p717)

Molecular Formula

  • C-H2-O

Molecular Weight

  • 30.0258
 

Classification Codes

Classification Codes

  • Agricultural Chemical
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Disinfectant
  • Disinfectants
  • Fixatives
  • Fungicide, Bactericide, Wood Preservative
  • Human Data
  • Insecticide
  • Mutation Data
  • Reproductive Effect
  • Skin / Eye Irritant
  • Tumor Data

Superlist Classification Codes

  • 2007 CERCLA Priority List, Rank: 244
  • 2011 CERCLA Priority List, Rank: 241
  • Ceiling (0.3 ppm); Sensitizer; Suspected human carcinogen
  • Overall Carcinogenic Evaluation: Group 1
  • Reasonably Anticipated to be a Carcinogen
  • Reportable Quantity (RQ) = 100 lb
  • Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) = 500 lb
  • TWA see 1910.1048

Names and Synonyms

Name of Substance

  • Formaldehyde [USP]
  • Methanal

MeSH Heading

  • Formaldehyde

Synonyms

  • AI3-26806
  • Aldehyd mravenci
  • Aldehyd mravenci [Czech]
  • Aldehyde formique
  • Aldehyde formique [French]
  • Aldehyde formique [ISO-French]
  • Aldeide formica
  • Aldeide formica [Italian]
  • BFV
  • Caswell No. 465
  • CCRIS 315
  • Dormol
  • EC 200-001-8
  • EINECS 200-001-8
  • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 043001
  • Fannoform
  • Formalaz
  • Formaldehyd
  • Formaldehyd [Czech, Polish]
  • Formaldehyde
  • Formaldehyde solution
  • Formaldehyde, gas
  • Formalin
  • Formalin 40
  • Formalin [JAN]
  • Formalin-loesungen
  • Formalin-loesungen [German]
  • Formalina
  • Formalina [Italian]
  • Formaline
  • Formaline [German]
  • Formalith
  • Formic aldehyde
  • Formol
  • FYDE
  • HSDB 164
  • Karsan
  • Lysoform
  • Methaldehyde
  • Methanal
  • Methyl aldehyde
  • Methylene oxide
  • Morbicid
  • NCI-C02799
  • NSC 298885
  • Oplossingen
  • Oplossingen [Dutch]
  • Oxomethane
  • Oxymethylene
  • Paraform
  • RCRA waste number U122
  • Superlysoform
  • UN 1198
  • UN 2209 (formalin)
  • UNII-1HG84L3525

Systematic Name

  • Formaldehyde

Superlist Names

  • 1HG84L3525
  • Formaldehyde
  • Formaldehyde (gas)
  • Formaldehyde solution
  • Formaldehyde, solution
  • Formaldehyde, solution (37% to 50%)
  • Formaldehyde, solutions with not <25% formaldehyde
  • Formaldehyde, solutions with not <25% formaldehyde [UN2209] [Corrosive]
  • Formaldehyde, solutions, flammable
  • Formaldehyde, solutions, flammable [UN1198] [Flammable liquid]
  • RCRA waste no. U122
  • UN1198
  • UN2209

Registry Numbers

CAS Registry Number

  • 50-00-0

FDA UNII

  • 1HG84L3525

Other Registry Numbers

  • 1053659-79-2
  • 112068-71-0
  • 1156543-56-4
  • 1158237-02-5
  • 1227476-28-9
  • 8005-38-7
  • 8006-07-3
  • 8013-13-6

System Generated Number

  • 0000050000

Structure Descriptors

InChI

1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2

InChIKey

WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Smiles

C=O

Toxicity

Organism Test Type Route Reported Dose (Normalized Dose) Effect Source
cat LCLo inhalation 400mg/m3/2H (400mg/m3)   "Toxicometric Parameters of Industrial Toxic Chemicals Under Single Exposure," Izmerov, N.F., et al., Moscow, Centre of International Projects, GKNT, 1982Vol. -, Pg. 69, 1982.
cat LDLo intravenous 30mg/kg (30mg/kg) BLOOD: OTHER CHANGES Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica. Vol. 8, Pg. 275, 1952.
dog LDLo intravenous 70mg/kg (70mg/kg)   International Polymer Science and Technology. Vol. 3, Pg. 93, 1976.
dog LDLo subcutaneous 350mg/kg (350mg/kg)   International Polymer Science and Technology. Vol. 3, Pg. 93, 1976.
frog LDLo parenteral 800ug/kg (0.8mg/kg)   International Polymer Science and Technology. Vol. 3, Pg. 93, 1976.
guinea pig LD50 oral 260mg/kg (260mg/kg)   Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Vol. 23, Pg. 259, 1941.
human TCLo inhalation 17mg/m3/30M (17mg/m3) SENSE ORGANS AND SPECIAL SENSES: LACRIMATION: EYE

LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: OTHER CHANGES		 JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 165, Pg. 1908, 1957.
man LDLo unreported 477mg/kg (477mg/kg)   "Poisoning; Toxicology, Symptoms, Treatments," 2nd ed., Arena, J.M., Springfield, IL, C.C. Thomas, 1970Vol. 2, Pg. 73, 1970.
man TCLo inhalation 300ug/m3 (0.3mg/m3) BEHAVIORAL: AGGRESSION

SENSE ORGANS AND SPECIAL SENSES: OTHER CHANGES: OLFACTION		 Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Vol. 12(7), Pg. 20, 1968.
man TDLo oral 643mg/kg (643mg/kg) GASTROINTESTINAL: NAUSEA OR VOMITING

LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: RESPIRATORY OBSTRUCTION

GASTROINTESTINAL: ULCERATION OR BLEEDING FROM STOMACH		 Japanese Journal of Toxicology. Vol. 4, Pg. 261, 1991.
man TDLo oral 646mg/kg (646mg/kg) GASTROINTESTINAL: NAUSEA OR VOMITING

GASTROINTESTINAL: ULCERATION OR BLEEDING FROM STOMACH

GASTROINTESTINAL: GASTRITIS		 Japanese Journal of Toxicology. Vol. 4, Pg. 261, 1991.
mouse LC50 inhalation 454gm/m3/4H (454000mg/m3)   Current Toxicology. Vol. 1, Pg. 47, 1993.
mouse LD50 oral 42mg/kg (42mg/kg) BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY)

BEHAVIORAL: EXCITEMENT

BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD		 National Technical Information Service. Vol. AD-A125-539,
mouse LD50 subcutaneous 300mg/kg (300mg/kg) LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: BRONCHIOLAR CONSTRICTION

LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: ACUTE PULMONARY EDEMA		 Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica. Vol. 6, Pg. 299, 1950.
mouse LDLo intraperitoneal 16mg/kg (16mg/kg)   Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Vol. 23, Pg. 288, 1972.
rabbit LD50 skin 270uL/kg (0.27mL/kg)   Union Carbide Data Sheet. Vol. 4/21/1967,
rabbit LDLo intravenous 48mg/kg (48mg/kg)   Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. Vol. 5, Pg. 213, 1955.
rabbit LDLo subcutaneous 240mg/kg (240mg/kg)   JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 62, Pg. 984, 1914.
rat LC50 inhalation 203mg/m3 (203mg/m3) BEHAVIORAL: EXCITEMENT

BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD

PERIPHERAL NERVE AND SENSATION: SPASTIC PARALYSIS WITH OR WITHOUT SENSORY CHANGE		 Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Vol. 18(2), Pg. 55, 1974.
rat LD50 intravenous 87mg/kg (87mg/kg)   Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie. Vol. 221, Pg. 166, 1954.
rat LD50 oral 100mg/kg (100mg/kg)   Food and Chemical Toxicology. Vol. 26, Pg. 447, 1988.
rat LD50 subcutaneous 420mg/kg (420mg/kg) LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: BRONCHIOLAR CONSTRICTION

LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: ACUTE PULMONARY EDEMA		 Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica. Vol. 6, Pg. 299, 1950.
women LDLo oral 1mL/kg (1mL/kg) GASTROINTESTINAL: ALTERATION IN GASTRIC SECRETION

CARDIAC: OTHER CHANGES

BEHAVIORAL: COMA		 Intensive Care Medicine. Vol. 23, Pg. 708, 1997.
women LDLo oral 108mg/kg (108mg/kg)   "Practical Toxicology of Plastics," Lefaux, R., Cleveland, OH, Chemical Rubber Co., 1968Vol. -, Pg. 328, 1968.

Physical Properties

Physical Property Value Units Temp (deg C) Source
Melting Point -9.20E+01 deg C   EXP
Boiling Point -1.91E+01 deg C   EXP
pKa Dissociation Constant 13.27 (none) 25 EXP
log P (octanol-water) 0.35 (none)   EXP
Water Solubility 4.00E+05 mg/L 20 EXP
Vapor Pressure 3886 mm Hg 25 EXP
Henry's Law Constant 3.37E-07 atm-m3/mole 25 EXP
Atmospheric OH Rate Constant 9.37E-12 cm3/molecule-sec 25 EXP

Physical property data is provided to ChemIDplus by SRC, Inc.