Always hear it being used to preserve things, but why?
In: Chemistry
I guess an easy way to explain it is that it acts like a kind of glue.
When formaldehyde interacts with organic material, it binds the proteins within it together. This stabilizes the structure of it, preventing its decay and killing all bacteria that would break it down.
On account of it being, you know, a carcinogen and all.
organic matter decomposes when in contact with moisture and bacteria. check out that peruvian mummy that was found recently, ancient but very well preserved. the reason is more or less the same as formaldehyde – when there is no moisture, and no bacteria to decompose = the tissue remains intact.
for the peruviana, it was altitude and frigid cold that preserved the body. but formaldehyde can provide a barrier that no moisture or bacteria can enter, regardless of the surrounding environment.
Your body is like a fresh fruit. If you leave it out, it starts to rot because bacteria and other stuff start breaking it down. Formaldehyde works like a special shield for the cells of the fruit (your body cells in this case), stopping the bacteria from attacking it.
It does this by sticking to the proteins and other parts of the fruit (or whatever you’re preserving), cross-linking all the cells and making them much, **much** harder for bacteria to attack and digest.
So, when you use formaldehyde, you’re basically giving the sample a protective “glue” that slows down decay and preserves, as much as possible, the structure of your specimen.
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