Formaldehyde
chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Formaldehyde (or methanal) is an organic chemical compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde.
It is a colorless gas with a strong smell. Like other aldehydes, it is flammable and toxic.[1]
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.[2]
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