Components:

• Paraformaldehyde (powder)
• NaOH, 1 N aqueous
• distilled H₂O

Formula:

Method:

CAUTION: All procedures should be carried out under a fume hood to avoid exposure to toxic formaldehyde vapors.

1. Heat 90 ml of distilled H₂O in a beaker to boiling, then turn off heat.
2. Add 8 gm of paraformaldehyde with stirring.
3. After about a minute of stirring, begin to add 1 N NaOH dropwise with continuous stirring until the solution clears.
4. Bring the final volume to 100 ml with distilled H₂O.
5. Store in a sealed bottle at 4° C.