Paraformaldehyde 97% is a white crystalline powder that is commonly used as a disinfectant, preservative, and fixative agent in various industrial and laboratory settings. It is the smallest polyoxymethylene and has the general formula (CH2O)n, where n ranges from 6 to 100.
Paraformaldehyde 97% is highly soluble in water, ethanol, and acetone, and it decomposes to formaldehyde when heated in the presence of water. This property makes it useful for preparing formaldehyde solutions that are used as a disinfectant and preservative for biological specimens.
In industrial applications, paraformaldehyde 97% is used in the production of adhesives, resins, and plastics. It is also used as a fumigant and sterilant in the food and agriculture industry. In addition, paraformaldehyde 97% is commonly used as a fixative agent in histology and cytology laboratories for preserving biological specimens, such as tissues and cells, for microscopic examination.