Formamide

Formamide
Structural formula of the formamide molecule
Ball and stick model of formamide
Ball and stick model of formamide
Space-filling model of the formamide molecule
Space-filling model of the formamide molecule
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Formamide[1]
Systematic IUPAC name
Methanamide
Other names
Carbamaldehyde
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.766 Edit this at Wikidata
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/CH3NO/c2-1-3/h1H,(H2,2,3) checkY
    Key: ZHNUHDYFZUAESO-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/CH3NO/c2-1-3/h1H,(H2,2,3)
    Key: ZHNUHDYFZUAESO-UHFFFAOYAQ
  • O=CN
Properties
CH3NO
Molar mass 45.04 g/mol
Appearance Colorless, oily liquid[2]
Density 1.133 g/cm3
Melting point 2 to 3 °C (36 to 37 °F; 275 to 276 K)
Boiling point 210 °C (410 °F; 483 K)
Miscible
Vapor pressure 0.08 mmHg at 20 °C
Acidity (pKa) 23.5 (in DMSO)[3]
−2.19×10−5 cm3/mol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
0
Flash point 154 °C (309 °F; 427 K) (closed cup)
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 none[2]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 10 ppm (15 mg/m3) [skin][2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 N.D.[2]
Related compounds
Related compounds
 Carbamic acid
Dimethylformamide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Formamide is an amide derived from formic acid. It is a colorless liquid which is miscible with water and has an ammonia-like odor. It is chemical feedstock for the manufacture of sulfa drugs and other pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticides, and in the manufacture of hydrocyanic acid. It has been used as a softener for paper and fiber. It is a solvent for many ionic compounds. It has also been used as a solvent for resins and plasticizers.[4] Some astrobiologists suggest that it may be an alternative to water as the main solvent in other forms of life.[5]

Formamides are compounds of the type RR′NCHO. One important formamide is dimethylformamide, (CH3)2NCHO.

  1. ^ Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 841. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4. The traditional name 'formamide' is retained for HCO-NH2 and is the preferred IUPAC name.
  2. ^ a b c d NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0295". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ F. G. Bordwell; J. E. Bartmess; J. A. Hautala (1978). "Alkyl effects on equilibrium acidities of carbon acids in protic and dipolar aprotic media and the gas phase". J. Org. Chem. 43 (16): 3095–3101. doi:10.1021/jo00410a001.
  4. ^ Hohn, A. (1999). "Formamide". In Kroschwitz, Jacqueline I. (ed.). Kirk-Othmer Concise Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 943–944. ISBN 978-0471419617.
  5. ^ "How to improve the search for aliens". The Economist.