Formalin vs. Formaldehyde

Formalinnoun

A solution of formaldehyde in water; used as a disinfectant and to preserve biological specimens.

Formalinnoun

An aqueous solution of formaldehyde, used as a preservative in museums and as a disinfectant.

Formalinnoun

a 10% solution of formaldehyde in water; used as a disinfectant or to preserve biological specimens

Formaldehydenoun

(organic compound) The simplest aldehyde, HCHO, a colourless gas that has many industrial applications; it dissolves in water to give formol (10%) and formalin.

Formaldehydenoun

A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.

Formaldehydenoun

a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde ( (listen) fer-mal-duh-hahyd, also (listen) for-) (systematic name methanal) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O (H−CHO). The pure compound is a pungent-smelling colorless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde (refer to section Forms below), hence it is stored as an aqueous solution (formalin).