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paraformaldehyde

paraformaldehyde

1 9.4
A white solid chemical used in labs to preserve tissues and make formaldehyde
  • noun
  • /ˌpærəfɔːrˈmælɪˌhaɪd/
  • Specialized
: paraformaldehído
  • Sectioning and histological staining: Samples were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 1 day at room temperature.
  • 4% paraformaldehyde
  • fixed in paraformaldehyde
  • paraformaldehyde-fixed sections

Examples

  • After cultivation for 21 days, the cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde.

    Academic text (2018)
  • There was no difference noted in the pattern or amount of immunofluorescence between the paraformaldehyde preparation and the acetone preparation.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Biopsies were taken and fixed in 10% paraformaldehyde.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Glioma tissues were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight, dehydrated, cleared, and embedded in paraffin.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Whole DRGs were obtained from 4% paraformaldehyde-perfused adult Wistar rats.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Nasal turbinate tissue was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and paraffin sectioned.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Mammary glands and solid tumors were removed and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 72 hours and then 70% ethanol.

    Academic text (2017)
  • NK cells were collected and fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde for 5 minutes at room temperature, and the reaction was quenched by the addition of 0.125M glycine.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Cells were then washed three times with culture medium and fixed with paraformaldehyde for 15 minutes.

Synonyms

formaldehyde
vsparaformaldehyde
  • Specialized
26 6.8

A colorless poisonous gas with a strong smell used to preserve things like lab samples and make chemicals

is a solid polymer made from the gas and used to release it
formalin
vsparaformaldehyde
  • Specialized
2 7.5

A liquid of water and formaldehyde used to kill germs and keep dead animals or plants for study

is a solid polymer used to preserve tissues or to release the chemical

Surface Forms

Morphology

paraformaldehyde = formaldehyde (opaque) = para + formaldehyde

This is a specialized chemical term meaning a polymerized form of formaldehyde, so the meaning is not recoverable for most learners from the visible parts alone.

Etymology

Paraformaldehyde comes from para- meaning 'linked together' or 'alongside' and formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve tissue. So paraformaldehyde is a white solid made of many formaldehyde parts joined together, which is why labs use it to fix or preserve samples.