HCHO + 2 CuSO4 + 4 NaOH HCOOH + Cu2O + 2 Na2SO4 + 2 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

2 CuII + 2 e- 2 CuI (reduction)

C0 - 2 e- CII (oxidation)

CuSO4 is an oxidizing agent, HCHO is a reducing agent.

Reactants:

  • HCHOFormaldehyde source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Methanal source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Methyl aldehyde source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Methylene glycol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Methylene oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colourless liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Nearly colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution (see specific listing for Formalin).] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • CuSO4Copper(II) sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cupric sulphate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Blue vitriol (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Bluestone (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Gray-white (anhydrous) | blue (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • NaOH
    • Names: Sodium hydroxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Caustic soda source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Lye source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White, waxy, opaque crystals source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to white, odorless solid (flakes, beads, granular form). source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • HCOOHFormic acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Methanoic acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Carbonous acid; Formylic acid; Hydrogen carboxylic acid; Hydroxy(oxo)methane; Metacarbonoic acid; Oxocarbinic acid; Oxomethanol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen carboxylic acid source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Aminic acid source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Colorless fuming liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless fuming liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless liquid with a pungent, penetrating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • Cu2OCopper(I) oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cuprous oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Dicopper oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Cuprite source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Brownish-red solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Yellow, red or brown crystalline powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • Na2SO4
    • Names: Sodium sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Sodium sulphate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfate of sodium source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid | hygroscopic source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2OWater, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27