CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

Formaldehyde (methanal) is a colourless gas, HCHO; r.d. 0.815 (at -20 °C); m.p. -92 °C; b.p. -21 °C. It is the simplest aldehyde, made by the catalytic oxidation of methanol (500 °C; silver catalyst) by air. It forms two polymers: methanal trimer and polymethanal.