Raman identification of H2CO in aqueous solutions

Aqueous formaldehyde solutions of mole fraction from 0.05 to 0.20 were studied by Raman spectroscopy at temperatures up to 180 °C. The previously unreported Raman spectrum of formaldehyde under its non‐hydrated form H2CO has been identified, in addition to the already known bands from methanediol CH2(OH)2 and poly(oxymethylene)glycols HO(CH2O)nH formed by hydration and subsequent polymerization of the formaldehyde molecules. The experimental spectrum of formaldehyde in solutions agrees perfectly with the theoretical calculations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Aqueous formaldehyde solutions of mole fraction from 0.05 to 0.20 were studied by Raman spectroscopy at temperatures up to 180 °C. The previously unreported Raman spectrum of formaldehyde in its non‐hydrated form H$_{\bf 2}$CO has been identified. The experimental spectrum of H2CO in solutions agrees perfectly with that obtained by theoretical calculations.