X

Formaldehyde : properties Part 1

Formaldehyde

source : wild mint shop

source: This land

Chemical Properties of Formaldehyde –

1) Oxidation –

Aldehydes are easily oxidised & thus act as reducing agents . Aldehyde on oxidation form corresponding acid containing same number of carbon atoms.

-CHO +[O]—–>  -COOH {acid}

HCHO + [O] —–>  HCOOH [Formic acid]

Oxidising agents may be strong such as acidified K2Cr2O7 or acidified KMnO4 or mild such as Tollen’s reagent or Fehling solution or Benedict solution.

Tollen’s Reagent-

It is an ammonical solution of Silver nitrate. When aldehyde is added to tollen’s reagent, Ag2O is reduced to silver which deposits as black ppt. or silver mirror.

-CHO + Ag2O—->  -COOH + 2Ag (silver mirror)

HCHO + Ag2O—->  HCOOH + 2Ag (silver mirror)

Fehling solution-

It is an alkaline solution of cupric ion complexed with sodium potassium tartarate . Aldehyde reduces cupric ion (blue ) to cuprous oxide (red).

Fehling solution I – dilute solution of CuSO4
Fehling solution II – Sodium potassium tartarate & NaOH

HCHO + 2 CuO —–>   HCOOH + Cu2O(red ppt. of cuprous oxide)

Benedict’s solution- It is a solution of CuSO4, Sodium citrate & Na2CO3. When heated with an aldehyde , a reddish brown ppt. appears.

2) Schiff’s Test-

Schiff’s reagent is a dilute solution of rosaniline hydrochloride whose red or pink colour disappears by passing SO2. Aldehydes when treated with Schiff’s reagent, restore its pink colour.

3) Reaction of Formaldehyde with alkali –

Formaldehyde forms a complex product with ammonia.The product is hexamethylene tetramine  or Urotropine.

6HCHO + 4NH3—->(CH2)6N4 +6 H2O

Urotropine is used as medicine in case of urinary troubles.

4) Cannizarro’s reaction-

In this reaction one molecule is oxidised & other  molecule is reduced to alcohol.

2HCHO + NaOH ——> CH3OH +HCOONa

5) Condensation Reaction-

HCH=O + HCH=O  —–>HCH(OH)CH=O [Glycollic aldehyde] ——–> HCH(OH)CH(OH)CH=O

——->  HCH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH=O [Formose ]

6) Polymerization:

a) Para formaldehyde :

when aqueous solution of  formaldehyde is evaporated to dryness, a white crystalline solid.

nHCHO <—–> (CH2O)n (paraformaldehyde) (n = 6 to 50)

b) Meta formaldehyde :

On allowing  formaldehyde  gas to stand at room temperature, it polymerises to form  meta formaldehyde i.e (HCHO)3. It is a white solid.

3 HCHO <—-> (HCHO)3

Uses:

  • Medical specimens.
  • It is used in the preparation of urotropine which is used as medicine.
  • It is used for making synthetic plastics like bakellite, urea formaldehyde, resin etc.
  • source :safer chemicals.org
Saroj Bhatia: Dr. Saroj Bhatia is an Ph.D in chemistry who has been teaching chemistry for over a decade. Currently she is a respected principal of a renowned college in her hometown. She took this medium for online users. Her proudest achievement is helping people learn chemistry.
Related Post