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Why is formaldehyde used as a disinfectant and soil sterilant?
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aldehyde
Alcohols may be oxidized to give aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids. The oxidation of organic compounds generally increases the number of bonds from carbon to oxygen, and it may decrease the number of bonds to hydrogen.
Formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant and soil sterilant primarily due to its high reactivity with proteins. This chemical interaction allows it to effectively neutralize microorganisms, which also makes it useful as an embalming agent and a fungicide.12
It is important to note that while formaldehyde is effective for these purposes, it is a hazardous substance. It is classified as a human carcinogen and is known to be extremely irritating to mucous membranes. Ethical safety standards necessitate careful handling and limited exposure to protect human health and the environment from its toxic effects.1