Questions regarding polyformaldehyde and caustic soda flakes
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Caustic soda is added to solid polyformaldehyde, and then a small amount of water is added to the caustic soda. After 1 minute, the caustic soda begins to release large amounts of heat; a chemical reaction occurs between the caustic soda and polyformaldehyde, resulting in a brown-colored reaction product. In the gas phase, there is an irritating odor of formaldehyde along with a burnt smell. I would like to ask if caustic soda can undergo a chemical reaction with solid polyformaldehyde. As far as I know, polyformaldehyde decomposes in the presence of weak bases to form formaldehyde; at most, formaldehyde can undergo a disproportionation reaction with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium formate and methanol. Sodium formate is white – so how can there be a brown-colored reaction product? Really confused?
Could the brown material be some kind of complex?
It’s burnt! ! ! Overheating! ! Large amount of caustic soda