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Designation: D 2379 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Acidity of Formaldehyde Solutions1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2379; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 6. Reagents and Materials
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the acidity 6.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
of commercially available formaldehyde solutions. used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
1.2 For hazard information and guidance, see the supplier’s all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
Material Safety Data Sheet. tee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the where such specifications are available.5 Other grades may be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- accuracy of the determination.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard 6.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
statements are given in Section 7. to water shall be understood to mean reagent water conforming
to Type IV of Specification D 1193.
2. Referenced Documents 6.3 Bromthymol Blue Indicator Solution (1.0 g/L)—
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water2 iTeh Standards Dissolve 0.1 g of the water-soluble form of bromthymol blue
indicator powder in 100 mL of water.
([Link]
D 2380 Test Method for Methanol Content of Formalde- 6.4 Sodium Hydroxide, Standard Solution (0.1 N)—Prepare
hyde Solutions3 and standardize 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as
E 200 Practice for Preparation, Standardization, and Stor- described in Practice E 200.
Analysis4
[Link]
age of Standard and Reagent Solutions for Chemical
Hazards
7.1 Formaldehyde and formaldehyde solutions are hazard-
3. Summary of Test Method ous and exposure to them should be minimized to avoid acute
ASTM D2379-99
3.1 A specimen is titrated with standard alkali to the effects and possible sensitization. Consult your supplier’s
[Link]
bromthymol blue end point. Material Safety Data Sheet for specific hazard information.
7.2 Sodium hydroxide solutions are corrosive and hazard-
4. Significance and Use ous. Exercise steps to prevent contact with the skin or eyes.
4.1 This test method provides a measurement of acidity (as Consult supplier’s Material Safety Data Sheet for specific
formic acid) in formaldehyde solutions. The results of these hazard.
measurements can be used for specification acceptance.
8. Procedure
5. Apparatus 8.1 Measure 50 mL of the sample into a 250-mL Erlenm-
5.1 Buret, 25-mL, calibrated in 0.1-mL divisions. A TFE- eyer flask, add 3 or 4 drops of bromthymol blue indicator
fluorocarbon resin stopcock is suitable for this purpose. solution, and titrate with 0.1 N NaOH solution to a blue end
point.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
5
Subcommittee D01.35 on Solvents, Plasticizers, and Chemical Intermediates. Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published August 1999. Originally Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
published as D 2379 – 65 T. Last previous edition D 2379 – 93. listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04. and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05. MD.
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