Funeral Service Practice Exam

Which individuals are credited with the discovery of formaldehyde?

1. Justus von Liebig and Robert Boyle

2. Butlerov and von Hoffman

3. John Dalton and Michael Faraday

4. Amedeo Avogadro and Dmitri Mendeleev

The correct answer is: Butlerov and von Hoffman

The discovery of formaldehyde is credited to Butlerov and von Hoffman, who played crucial roles in its identification and characterization in the 19th century. Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a simple aldehyde and was first discovered in 1859 by the Russian chemist Aleksandr Butlerov during his research on organic compounds. The German chemist August von Hoffman is also recognized for his work in isolating formaldehyde and studying its properties, further contributing to the understanding of this compound. The contributions of Butlerov and von Hoffman were significant because their research laid the foundational knowledge of aldehydes and formaldehyde that would later be important in various applications, including its use in preservation and disinfectant in funeral services and biological specimens. Their efforts enabled subsequent developments in chemistry and biochemistry, impacting various fields including medicine, environmental science, and industry.