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47608

Sigma-Aldrich

Formaldehyde solution

for molecular biology, BioReagent, ≥36.0% in H2O (T)

Synonym(s):

Formic aldehyde, Formol, Formalin

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
HCHO
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
30.03
Beilstein:
1209228
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352114
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.52

grade

for molecular biology

Quality Level

vapor density

1.03 (vs air)

vapor pressure

52 mmHg ( 37 °C)

product line

BioReagent

form

liquid

autoignition temp.

572 °F

contains

~10% methanol as stabilizer

concentration

≥36.0% in H2O (T)
36.0-38.0% (aldehyde method)

technique(s)

electrophoresis: suitable

impurities

≤0.03% free acid (as HCOOH)

ign. residue

≤0.05% (as SO4)

pH

2.8-4.0

density

1.09 g/mL at 20 °C
1.09 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

anion traces

chloride (Cl-): ≤10 mg/kg
sulfate (SO42-): ≤20 mg/kg

cation traces

Ca: ≤5 mg/kg
Cd: ≤1 mg/kg
Co: ≤1 mg/kg
Cr: ≤1 mg/kg
Cu: ≤1 mg/kg
Fe: ≤1 mg/kg
K: ≤20 mg/kg
Mg: ≤1 mg/kg
Mn: ≤1 mg/kg
Na: ≤100 mg/kg
Ni: ≤1 mg/kg
Pb: ≤1 mg/kg
Zn: ≤1 mg/mL

λ

2 M in H2O

UV absorption

λ: 260 nm Amax: 0.01
λ: 280 nm Amax: 0.01

suitability

in accordance for electrophoresis of RNA in agarose gels

storage temp.

room temp

SMILES string

[H]C([H])=O

InChI

1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2

InChI key

WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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General description

Formaldehyde is a molecular biology reagent that denaturates RNA during electrophoresis when incorporated in agarose gels.
It is an aliphatic aldehyde that is widely used in industrial applications for the synthesis of several chemicals such as melamine formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, phenol formaldehyde and industrial resins, paraformaldehyde, polyols, chelating agents, slow release fertilizers, 1,4-butanediol and hexamethylenetetramine.

Application

Formaldehyde solution is suitable for:
  • denaturation and separation of RNA molecules
  • anti-bacterial treatment
  • fixation of cells
Formaldehydesolution has been used:
  • in the fixation of human spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT).
  • to crosslink T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia protein/DNA complex during chromatin immunoprecipitation.
  • in fixing zebra fish larvae for neutrophil staining.

Caution

may contain precipitate (paraformaldehyde)

Principle

Formaldehyde disrupts the secondary structure of RNA and allows separation and identification of RNA species based on charge migration.

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 2 Inhalation - Acute Tox. 3 Dermal - Acute Tox. 3 Oral - Carc. 1B - Eye Dam. 1 - Flam. Liq. 3 - Muta. 2 - Skin Corr. 1B - Skin Sens. 1 - STOT SE 1 - STOT SE 3

Target Organs

Eyes,Central nervous system, Respiratory system

Storage Class Code

3 - Flammable liquids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

133.0 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

56.11 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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