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The paraformaldehyde has settled out.
From: Dan Blunk [blunk**At_Symbol_Here**UCSC.EDU]
Sent: 08/11/2010 10:28 AM MST
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.ED
U
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Old Formalin With Lots of Precipitate
Colleagues,
I wondered if you’ve run into this previously:
A physical plant person brought me a pint reagent bottle labeled 37% Formaldehy de this morning that he found while remodeling a workspace.
The
bottle is the original
It’s about =C2=BE full, and appears to have been opened.< /p>
About 50% of the volume of the bottle is a white precipitate, with about =C2=BC vol ume of clear liquid above.
The purchase date on the label is smudged, but it appears the bottle is at least 35 years old.
As I remember, aldehydes do undergo a slow polymerization reaction. I wouldn’ ;t expect an aqueous solution to form peroxides.
Thoughts?
Dan