noun
formaldehyde
for-MAL-duh-hyde/fɔːrˈmældɪhaɪd/
A strong-smelling chemical used to make resins and preserve biological tissue.
The sealed bottle of formaldehyde stands beside samples of manufactured resin.
Etymology
The name contracts “formic aldehyde”: its “ant” element comes through formic acid, once prepared by distilling ants. Aldehyde denotes an alcohol oxidation product, here the pungent gas obtained from methyl alcohol.
In context
the formaldehyde has a concentration of 35% when preparing preservative we deal with it as if it's 100 percent and therefore we start by adding 10 ml of formaldehyde
More examples
- Manufacturers use formaldehyde to make resins for plywood.
- The technician handles formaldehyde under a laboratory exhaust hood.
- The sharp smell of formaldehyde fills the specimen room.
Similar words
- methanal
- The systematic chemical name for the same compound.