Formaldehyde

• Formula: CH₂O
• Molecular weight: 30.0260
• IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI=1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2 Copy

  
• IUPAC Standard InChIKey: WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copy
• CAS Registry Number: 50-00-0
• Chemical structure:
  This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file or as a computed 3d SD file
  The 3d structure may be viewed using Java or Javascript.
• Isotopologues:
  • methanal-d
• Other names: Methanal; BFV; Fannoform; Formaldehyde, gas; Formalin; Formalith; Formic aldehyde; Formol; Fyde; Lysoform; Methyl aldehyde; Methylene oxide; Morbicid; Oxomethane; Oxymethylene; Paraform; Superlysoform; Karsan; Methaldehyde; Aldehyde formique; Aldeide formica; Formaldehyd; Formalin-loesungen; Formalina; Formaline; NCI-C02799; Oplossingen; Aldehyd mravenci; Formalin 40; Rcra waste number U122; UN 1198; UN 2209; H2CO; Durine; Hercules 37M6-8; CH2O; NSC 298885; Fordor
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• Information on this page:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Phase change data
  • Reaction thermochemistry data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • Ion clustering data
  • Gas Chromatography
• Data at other public NIST sites:
  • Electron-Impact Ionization Cross Sections (on physics web site)
  • Gas Phase Kinetics Database
  • X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Database, version 5.0
• Options:
  • Switch to SI units

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Gas phase thermochemistry data

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
ALS - Hussein Y. Afeefy, Joel F. Liebman, and Stephen E. Stein
GT - Glushko Thermocenter, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Constant pressure heat capacity of gas

Gas Phase Heat Capacity (Shomate Equation)

C_p° = A + B*t + C*t² + D*t³ + E/t²
H° − H°_298.15= A*t + B*t²/2 + C*t³/3 + D*t⁴/4 − E/t + F − H
S° = A*ln(t) + B*t + C*t²/2 + D*t³/3 − E/(2*t²) + G
    C_p = heat capacity (cal/mol*K)
    H° = standard enthalpy (kcal/mol)
    S° = standard entropy (cal/mol*K)
    t = temperature (K) / 1000.

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Phase change data

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
TRC - Thermodynamics Research Center, NIST Boulder Laboratories, Chris Muzny director
AC - William E. Acree, Jr., James S. Chickos

Enthalpy of vaporization

Antoine Equation Parameters

log₁₀(P) = A − (B / (T + C))
    P = vapor pressure (atm)
    T = temperature (K)

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Enthalpy of fusion

Reaction thermochemistry data

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
M - Michael M. Meot-Ner (Mautner) and Sharon G. Lias
B - John E. Bartmess
ALS - Hussein Y. Afeefy, Joel F. Liebman, and Stephen E. Stein
RCD - Robert C. Dunbar

Note: Please consider using the reaction search for this species. This page allows searching of all reactions involving this species. A general reaction search form is also available. Future versions of this site may rely on reaction search pages in place of the enumerated reaction displays seen below.

Individual Reactions

 +  = ( • )

By formula: CH₃O⁺ + CH₂O = (CH₃O⁺ • CH₂O)

Bond type: Hydrogen bonds of the type OH-O between organics

 +  = ( • )

By formula: Li⁺ + CH₂O = (Li⁺ • CH₂O)

(CH₃O^- • 4294967295) +  = CH₃O^-

By formula: (CH₃O^- • 4294967295CH₂O) + CH₂O = CH₃O^-

CHO^- +  =

By formula: CHO^- + H⁺ = CH₂O

CH₂N⁺ +  = (CH₂N⁺ • )

By formula: CH₂N⁺ + CH₂O = (CH₂N⁺ • CH₂O)

Bond type: Hydrogen bonds of the type NH+-O between organics

=  + 

By formula: C₃H₉NO = C₂H₇N + CH₂O

 +  =  + 2

By formula: C₃H₈O₂ + H₂O = CH₂O + 2CH₄O

 +  =

By formula: CH₂O + C₃H₈N₂O = C₄H₁₀N₂O₂

2 +  =  + 

By formula: 2C₂H₇N + CH₂O = C₅H₁₄N₂ + H₂O

( • 2) +  = ( • 3)

By formula: (Fe⁺ • 2CH₂O) + CH₂O = (Fe⁺ • 3CH₂O)

( • 3) +  = ( • 4)

By formula: (Fe⁺ • 3CH₂O) + CH₂O = (Fe⁺ • 4CH₂O)

( • ) +  = ( • 2)

By formula: (Fe⁺ • CH₂O) + CH₂O = (Fe⁺ • 2CH₂O)

 +  =

By formula: C₂H₇N + CH₂O = C₃H₉NO

 +  =

By formula: H₂ + CO = CH₂O

 +  = ( • )

By formula: Fe⁺ + CH₂O = (Fe⁺ • CH₂O)

 +  = ( • )

By formula: Al⁺ + CH₂O = (Al⁺ • CH₂O)

= 3

By formula: C₃H₆O₃ = 3CH₂O

3 =

By formula: 3CH₂O = C₃H₆O₃

IR Spectrum

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Data compiled by: Coblentz Society, Inc.

• GAS (HEATING PARAFORMALDEHYDE; CONCENTRATION UNKNOWN); PERKIN-ELMER 297; DIGITIZED BY NIST FROM HARD COPY (FROM TWO SEGMENTS); 4 cm^-1 resolution
• SOLUTION (UNKNOWN CONCENTRATION IN CCl4) VS. CCl4; PERKIN-ELMER 297; DIGITIZED BY NIST FROM HARD COPY (FROM TWO SEGMENTS); 4 cm^-1 resolution

Mass spectrum (electron ionization)

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center, William E. Wallace, director

Spectrum

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Additional Data

Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: Takehiko Shimanouchi

Symmetry:   C_2ν     Symmetry Number σ = 2

Source: Shimanouchi, 1972

Notes

References

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, Reaction thermochemistry data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Chase, 1998
Chase, M.W., Jr., NIST-JANAF Themochemical Tables, Fourth Edition, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, Monograph 9, 1998, 1-1951. [all data]

Fletcher and Pilcher, 1970
Fletcher, R.A.; Pilcher, G., Measurements of heats of combustion by flame calorimetry, Trans. Faraday Soc., 1970, 66, 794-799. [all data]

Wartenberg and Lerner-Steinberg, 1925
Wartenberg, H.; Lerner-Steinberg, Heat of formation of formaldehyde, Z. Angew. Chem., 1925, 38, 591-592. [all data]

Thermodynamics Research Center, 1997
Thermodynamics Research Center, Selected Values of Properties of Chemical Compounds., Thermodynamics Research Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1997. [all data]

Thompson, 1941
Thompson, H.W., Thermodynamic functions and equilibria of formaldehyde, deuteroformaldehyde, phosgene and thiophosgene, Trans. Faraday Soc., 1941, 37, 251-260. [all data]

Pillai M.G.K., 1961
Pillai M.G.K., Potential energy constants, rotational distortion constants, and calculated thermodynamic properties for some planar XYZ2 molecules, J. Mol. Spectrosc., 1961, 6, 465-471. [all data]

Gurvich, Veyts, et al., 1989
Gurvich, L.V.; Veyts, I.V.; Alcock, C.B., Thermodynamic Properties of Individual Substances, 4th ed.; Vols. 1 and 2, Hemisphere, New York, 1989. [all data]

Chao J., 1980
Chao J., Perfect gas thermodynamic properties of methanal, ethanal and their deuterated species, Thermochim. Acta, 1980, 41, 41-54. [all data]

Chao J., 1986
Chao J., Thermodynamic properties of key organic oxygen compounds in the carbon range C1 to C4. Part 2. Ideal gas properties, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1986, 15, 1369-1436. [all data]

Spence and Wild, 1935
Spence, R.; Wild, W., The Vapor Pressure Curve of Formaldehyde and Some Related Data, J. Chem. Soc., 1935, 1935, 506-9. [all data]

Anonymous, 1958
Anonymous, R., , Am. Pet. Inst. Res. Proj. 45, Ohio State Univ., 1958. [all data]

Harries, 1901
Harries, C.D., Chem. Ber., 1901, 34, 635. [all data]

Stephenson and Malanowski, 1987
Stephenson, Richard M.; Malanowski, Stanislaw, Handbook of the Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds, 1987, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3173-2 . [all data]

Spence and Wild, 1935, 2
Spence, Robert; Wild, William, 114. The vapour-pressure curve of formaldehyde, and some related data, J. Chem. Soc., 1935, 506, https://doi.org/10.1039/jr9350000506 . [all data]

Spence and Wild, 1935, 3
Spence, R.; Wild, W., The Vapour-Pressure Curve of Formaldehyde, and Some Related Data, J. Chem. Soc., 1935, 138, 506-509, https://doi.org/10.1039/jr9350000506 . [all data]

Vasil'ev and Lebedev, 1998
Vasil'ev, V.G.; Lebedev, B.V., Thermodynamic Properties of Aliphatic Aldehydes and Polyaldehydes: Effect of Composition and Structure, Polym. Sci., Ser. A, 1998, 40, 5, 464. [all data]

Larson and McMahon, 1982
Larson, J.W.; McMahon, T.B., Formation, Thermochemistry, and Relative Stabilities of Proton - Bound dimers of Oxygen n - Donor Bases from Ion Cyclotron Resonance Solvent - Exchange Equilibria Measurements, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1982, 104, 23, 6255, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00387a016 . [all data]

Cunningham, Payzant, et al., 1972
Cunningham, A.J.; Payzant, J.D.; Kebarle, P., A Kinetic Study of the Proton Hydrate H+(H2O)n Equilibria in the Gas Phase, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1972, 94, 22, 7627, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00777a003 . [all data]

Lias, Liebman, et al., 1984
Lias, S.G.; Liebman, J.F.; Levin, R.D., Evaluated gas phase basicities and proton affinities of molecules heats of formation of protonated molecules, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1984, 13, 695. [all data]

Keesee and Castleman, 1986
Keesee, R.G.; Castleman, A.W., Jr., Thermochemical data on Ggs-phase ion-molecule association and clustering reactions, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1986, 15, 1011. [all data]

Fehsenfeld, Dotan, et al., 1978
Fehsenfeld, F.C.; Dotan, I.; Albritton, D.L.; Howard, C.J.; Ferguson, E.E., Stratospheric Positive Ion Chemistry of Formaldehyde and Methanol, J. Geophys. Res., 1978, 83, C3, 1333, https://doi.org/10.1029/JC083iC03p01333 . [all data]

Meot-Ner (Mautner), 1992
Meot-Ner (Mautner), M., Intermolecular Forces in Organic Clusters, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1992, 114, 9, 3312, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00035a024 . [all data]

Larson, Clair, et al., 1982
Larson, J.W.; Clair, R.L.; McMahon, T.B., Bimolecular Production of Proton Bound Dimers in the Gas Phase. A Low Pressure Ion Cyclotron Resonance Technique for Examination of Solvent Exchange Equilibria and Determination of Single Molecule Solvation Energetics, Can. J. Chem., 1982, 60, 4, 542, https://doi.org/10.1139/v82-079 . [all data]

Woodin and Beauchamp, 1978
Woodin, R.L.; Beauchamp, J.L., Bonding of Li+ to Lewis Bases in the Gas Phase. Reversals in Methyl Substituent Effects for Different Reference Acids, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1978, 100, 2, 501, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00470a024 . [all data]

Dzidic and Kebarle, 1970
Dzidic, I.; Kebarle, P., Hydration of the Alkali Ions in the Gas Phase. Enthalpies and Entropies of Reactions M+(H2O)n-1 + H2O = M+(H2O)n, J. Phys. Chem., 1970, 74, 7, 1466, https://doi.org/10.1021/j100702a013 . [all data]

Staley and Beauchamp, 1975
Staley, R.H.; Beauchamp, J.L., Intrinsic Acid - Base Properties of Molecules. Binding Energies of Li+ to pi - and n - Donor Bases, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1975, 97, 20, 5920, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00853a050 . [all data]

Nee, Osterwalder, et al., 2006
Nee, M.J.; Osterwalder, A.; Zhou, J.; Neumark, D.M., Slow electron velocity-map imaging photoelectron spectra of the methoxide anion, J. Chem. Phys., 2006, 125, 1, 014306, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2212411 . [all data]

Osborn, Leahy, et al., 1998
Osborn, D.L.; Leahy, D.J.; Kim, E.H.; deBeer, E.; Neumark, D.M., Photoelectron spectroscopy of CH3O- and CD3O-, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1998, 292, 4-6, 651-655, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2614(98)00717-9 . [all data]

Bartmess, Scott, et al., 1979
Bartmess, J.E.; Scott, J.A.; McIver, R.T., Jr., The gas phase acidity scale from methanol to phenol, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1979, 101, 6047. [all data]

Murray, Miller, et al., 1986
Murray, K.K.; Miller, T.M.; Leopold, D.G.; Lineberger, W.C., Laser photoelectron spectroscopy of the Formylf anion, J. Chem. Phys., 1986, 84, 2520. [all data]

Karpas and Klein, 1975
Karpas, Z.; Klein, F.S., Negative ion-molecule reactions in a mixture of ammonia-formaldehyde - an ICR mass spectrometry study, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1975, 18, 65. [all data]

Tanaka, Mackay, et al., 1978
Tanaka, K.; Mackay, G.I.; Bohme, D.K., Rate and Equilibrium Constant Measurements for Gas-Phase Proton-Transfer Reactions Involving H2O, H2S, HCN, and H2CO, Can. J. Chem., 1978, 56, 2, 193, https://doi.org/10.1139/v78-031 . [all data]

Meot-Ner (Mautner), 1978
Meot-Ner (Mautner), M., Solvation of the Proton by HCN and CH3CN. Condensation of HCN with Ions in the Gas Phase., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1978, 100, 15, 4694, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00483a012 . [all data]

Rogers and Rapiejko, 1974
Rogers, F.E.; Rapiejko, R.J., Thermochemistry of carbonyl addition reactions. II. Enthalpy of addition of dimethylamine to formaldehyde, J. Phys. Chem., 1974, 78, 599-603. [all data]

Birley and Skinner, 1970
Birley, G.I.; Skinner, H.A., Enthalpies of hydrolysis of dimethoxymethane and 1,1-dimethoxyethane, Trans. Faraday Soc., 1970, 66, 791-793. [all data]

Perepelkova, Igranova, et al., 1981
Perepelkova, T.I.; Igranova, E.G.; Moiseev, V.D.; Demchenko, L.Ya.; Zhuravleva, I.I., Calorimetric study of the methylolation of 1,1-dimethylurea, Khim. Promst. Ser. Proizvod. Pererab. Plastmass Sint. Smol, 1981, 15-18. [all data]

Rodgers and Armentrout, 2000
Rodgers, M.T.; Armentrout, P.B., Noncovalent Metal-Ligand Bond Energies as Studied by Threshold Collision-Induced Dissociation, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 2000, 19, 4, 215, https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-2787(200007)19:4<215::AID-MAS2>3.0.CO;2-X . [all data]

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Newton, R.H.; Dodge, B.F., The equilibrium between carbon monoxide, hydrogen, formaldehyde and methanol. I. The reactions CO + H₂ = HCOH and H₂ + HCOH = CH₃OH, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1933, 55, 4747-4759. [all data]

Bouchard, Brenner, et al., 1997
Bouchard, F.; Brenner, V.; Carra, C.; Hepburn, J.W.; Koyanagi, G.K.; McMahon, T.B.; Ohanessian, G.; Peschke, M., Energetics and Structure of Complexes of Al+ with Small Organic Molecules in the Gas Phase, J. Phys. Chem. A, 1997, 101, 33, 5885, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp9703465 . [all data]

Busfield and Merigold, 1969
Busfield, W.K.; Merigold, D., The gas-phase equilibrium between trioxan and formaldehyde: The standard enthalpy and entropy of the trimerisation of formaldehyde, J. Chem. Soc. A, 1969, 19, 2975-2977. [all data]

Shimanouchi, 1972
Shimanouchi, T., Tables of Molecular Vibrational Frequencies Consolidated Volume I, National Bureau of Standards, 1972, 1-160. [all data]

Notes

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, Reaction thermochemistry data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  Cp,gas	Constant pressure heat capacity of gas
  S°gas,1 bar	Entropy of gas at standard conditions (1 bar)
  Tboil	Boiling point
  Tfus	Fusion (melting) point
  Ttriple	Triple point temperature
  ΔcH°gas	Enthalpy of combustion of gas at standard conditions
  ΔfH°gas	Enthalpy of formation of gas at standard conditions
  ΔfusH	Enthalpy of fusion
  ΔrG°	Free energy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrH°	Enthalpy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrS°	Entropy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔvapH	Enthalpy of vaporization

• Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
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