REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 



189 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



FORMALDEHYDE. 



Formaldehyde is being more and more used in the Canadian Xorthwest in the 

 treatment of wheat for the prevention of smut. It is fast taking the place of blue- 

 stone or copper sulphate — which for many years has been used so universally for this 

 purpose — because experience has shown it to be equally efBcacious as a smut preven- 

 tive and easier 'of preparation, mere dilution of the chemical being all that is neces- 

 sary. As regards its action on the vitality of the seed, it has been found less injurious 

 in the strengths recommended (1 lb. formaldehyde in 32 to 40 gallons of water) than 

 bluestone solutions (1 lb. bluestone dissolved in 8 to 12 gallons) that have been com- 

 monly employed for this purpose. 



The extensive use of formaldehyde has resulted in a comparatively large number 

 of brands being put upon the Northwestern market. This fact and the inability of the 

 purchaser by mere inspection to determine the strength of the chemical, have led to a 

 number of samples being sent in for analysis. 



Analysis of Formaldehyde Solutions. 



o 



o 

 .a 

 a 



5537 

 6712 

 6736 

 6749 

 6819 

 6713 

 6737 

 6839 

 6754 

 6784 



5554! 

 6723 

 6775 

 6783 

 6831 



Sender. 



W. H. M., Gilbert Plains, Man. . 



G. E. H., Dalmeny. Sask 



A. H., Howard, Sask 



D. H., Boissevain, Man 



J. M.. Elkhorn, Man 



J, E. H., Dalmeney, Sask 



A. H., He ward, Sask ". 



W. H. M., Gilbert Plains, Man. . . 



G. K., Petrofka, Sask 



C. H. H., Alameda, Sask 



C. E. F., Ottawa, Ont 



A. T., Minto, Man 



H. F., Hochstead, Sask 



W. R. H., Swift Current, Sask. . . 

 R. B. P., Yellow Grass, Sask . . . 

 T. T., Laxdal, Sask 



Manufacturer or Vendor, 



1) tlO 



The Montreal Chemical Works 



The Standard Chemical Co 



M II 



It II 



II II 



The Martin-Boyle Wynne Co., Winnipeg, Man 

 II II II 



II II II 



T. Eaton Co., Winnipeg, Man . . . 



Noyes Bros. & Cutler, St. Paul, Minn , 



National Drug and Chemical Co 



Particulars not furnished 



p. c. 



37-76 

 36 40 

 37 -55 

 37-30 

 38 05 

 36-95 

 37-35 

 38-43 

 36-70 

 36 15 

 36 24 



36 60 

 34-15 

 38-35 

 37-20 



37 35 



Our results, it will be noticed, are stated as percentages of formaldehyde ' by 

 weight,' and the figures are consequently somewhat lower than if they had been stated 

 ' by volume.' According to certain authorities, a 40 per cent ' by volume ' solution 

 is equal to 37-3 per cent by weight. The guarantee usually found upon the label is 

 ' Formaldehyde 40 per cent solution,' meaning 40 per cent by volume. We have been 

 asked by manufacturers to make our returns ' by volume,' so that purchasers may not 

 be led to infer that the brand is below the guaranteed strength. Our answer to this 

 request is, (1) that it is customary for chemists at the present day to state their results 

 in percentages by weight, and that it is desirable to have our data comparable with 

 those of other laboratories. (2) As the solution of formaldehyde is sold by weight and 

 not by volume, it seems only natural to expect that any statement as regards composi- 

 tion would express the results as percentages by weight. 



The percentages recorded are very similar to those published in the report of this 

 Division for 1903 and 1905, at which times the various brands then upon the market 

 were analysed. 



