AAMI Chemistry for Embalmers Unit 8 Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update
2026/2027
Shelf Life - Answers the _________ of embalming fluid refers to the length of time the fluid
maintains its functionality before it is used.
Temperature, Time, pH, Light - Answers what are 4 factors that affect the shelf life of
embalming chemicals?
Elevated - Answers ________ temperatures accelerate polymerization of formaldehyde into
paraformaldehyde, a solid that precipitates out of the solution. This has an overall effect of
reducing the index of the remaining fluid.
Decomposition - Answers elevated temperatures cause ________ of other disinfectant and
preservative components in the fluid.
Depressed - Answers _______ temperatures cause precipitation of solutes.
2, 5 - Answers the average shelf life for embalming chemicals is ___-___ years.
Time - Answers this will cause polymerization of many of the components of embalming fluid
especially formaldehyde.
6 - Answers on average you shouldn't keep more than a ____ month supply of embalming fluid
on hand.
Methanol - Answers this is routinely used as an antipolymerizing agent for formaldehyde. Given
enough time it can be oxidized to formaldehyde which will then turn into paraform.
pH - Answers this refers to the acidity or alkalinity of the solution.
Formic Acid - Answers formaldehyde can be readily oxidized to ______ when there are shifts in
the pH.
Decomposition - Answers a strong alkaline solution causes ______ of the formaldehyde.
Strong - Answers a _______ alkaline solution causes decomposition of the formaldehyde.
Polymerization - Answers a highly acidic solution promotes _______ of the formaldehyde.
Acidic - Answers a highly ________ solution promotes polymerization of the formaldehyde.
Buffers - Answers adding ________ prolongs shelf life.
Oxidized - Answers some dyes maybe _______ when exposed to light which causes a color
change of the fluid.
Light - Answers some dyes maybe oxidized when exposed to ________ which causes a color
,change of the fluid.
Light - Answers _______ can also increase polymerization of formaldehyde.
Arterial - Answers ______ fluid is the concentrated, preservative embalming chemical that will be
diluted with water or another appropriate vehicle such as alcohol to form the arterial solution
also known as embalming solution or primary dilution for injection into the arterial system
during vascular embalming.
Embalming - Answers _______ fluid is an aqueous solution of gasses, liquids, and solids injected
into the arterial system for diffusion into the tissue cells to aid in preservation.
Primary, Secondary - Answers arterial fluid may be a part of both ________ and ________
injections.
Primary - Answers the first initial injection which may or may not contain preservatives.
Preinjection - Answers what is primary injection sometimes referred to as?
Secondary - Answers the injection that takes place after the primary injection.
Index, Color - Answers the classification of arterial fluid is done in two way which are?
Index - Answers the amount of formaldehyde gas in grams dissolved in 100 ml. of solution.
Strong - Answers index of 26-36 is considered a ________ fluid.
Strong - Answers a ________ fluid with an index of 26-36 will:
- cause rapid tissue coagulation and fixation with a definite degree of firmness.
- used for problem cases and more difficult to firm bodies.
- improper use may cause an excessive degree of dehydration.
Medium - Answers index of 16-25 is considered a ________ fluid.
Medium - Answers a ______ fluid with an index of 16-25 will:
- produce moderate, slow-forming flexible firmness with little dehydration.
- used for routine cases
Weak - Answers index of 5-15 is considered a _______ fluid
Weak - Answers a ______ fluid with an index of 5-15 will:
- produce minimum amounts of firming
, - is used for jaundice cases, children, and infants
Cosmetic - Answers these fluids contain active dyes that give color to body tissues.
Non-Cosmetic - Answers these fluids contain inactive dyes that cause no color change in the
body, they color the fluid only.
Preservatives - Answers these are some of the most important components of arterial fluid.
Preservatives - Answers these inactivate saprophytic bacteria and render the medium upon
which they thrive unsuitable for nutrition.
Preservatives - Answers these arrest decomposition by altering the enzymes of the body by
denaturing the proteins of the body in such a manner that the enzymes of decomposition
cannot work. They convert decomposable tissue into a form less suseptible to decomposition.
Preservatives - Answers all _______ have disinfecting value, but many disinfectants have
preserving power as well.
Cross Linking - Answers all aldehydes function by _______ proteins.
Formaldehyde - Answers what is the most frequently used aldehyde?
Gluteraldehyde - Answers what is the second most frequently used aldehyde?
Formaldehyde - Answers this is inexpensive, bactericidal and inhibits yeast and mold growth.
Formaldehyde - Answers this rapidly destroys autolytic enzymes and acts of the body's proteins
making them insoluble and thereby inhibits tissue decomposition.
Small - Answers a _______ amount of formaldehyde is needed to act on a large amount of
protein.
Amines - Answers formaldehyde deodorizes the body _______ formed during putrefaction.
Glyoxal - Answers this dialdhyde, tends to stain tissue yellow limiting its use mainly to cavity
fluid formulations.
Gluteraldehyde - Answers this dialdehyde, produces less firming that formaldehyde and has
outstanding disinfectant qualities.
Gluteraldehyde - Answers this dialdehyde:
- is capable of reacting with protein structures over a wide pH range
- is less dehydrating that formaldehyde
- is an excellent disinfectant that is known as a cold chemical sterilant.
2026/2027
Shelf Life - Answers the _________ of embalming fluid refers to the length of time the fluid
maintains its functionality before it is used.
Temperature, Time, pH, Light - Answers what are 4 factors that affect the shelf life of
embalming chemicals?
Elevated - Answers ________ temperatures accelerate polymerization of formaldehyde into
paraformaldehyde, a solid that precipitates out of the solution. This has an overall effect of
reducing the index of the remaining fluid.
Decomposition - Answers elevated temperatures cause ________ of other disinfectant and
preservative components in the fluid.
Depressed - Answers _______ temperatures cause precipitation of solutes.
2, 5 - Answers the average shelf life for embalming chemicals is ___-___ years.
Time - Answers this will cause polymerization of many of the components of embalming fluid
especially formaldehyde.
6 - Answers on average you shouldn't keep more than a ____ month supply of embalming fluid
on hand.
Methanol - Answers this is routinely used as an antipolymerizing agent for formaldehyde. Given
enough time it can be oxidized to formaldehyde which will then turn into paraform.
pH - Answers this refers to the acidity or alkalinity of the solution.
Formic Acid - Answers formaldehyde can be readily oxidized to ______ when there are shifts in
the pH.
Decomposition - Answers a strong alkaline solution causes ______ of the formaldehyde.
Strong - Answers a _______ alkaline solution causes decomposition of the formaldehyde.
Polymerization - Answers a highly acidic solution promotes _______ of the formaldehyde.
Acidic - Answers a highly ________ solution promotes polymerization of the formaldehyde.
Buffers - Answers adding ________ prolongs shelf life.
Oxidized - Answers some dyes maybe _______ when exposed to light which causes a color
change of the fluid.
Light - Answers some dyes maybe oxidized when exposed to ________ which causes a color
,change of the fluid.
Light - Answers _______ can also increase polymerization of formaldehyde.
Arterial - Answers ______ fluid is the concentrated, preservative embalming chemical that will be
diluted with water or another appropriate vehicle such as alcohol to form the arterial solution
also known as embalming solution or primary dilution for injection into the arterial system
during vascular embalming.
Embalming - Answers _______ fluid is an aqueous solution of gasses, liquids, and solids injected
into the arterial system for diffusion into the tissue cells to aid in preservation.
Primary, Secondary - Answers arterial fluid may be a part of both ________ and ________
injections.
Primary - Answers the first initial injection which may or may not contain preservatives.
Preinjection - Answers what is primary injection sometimes referred to as?
Secondary - Answers the injection that takes place after the primary injection.
Index, Color - Answers the classification of arterial fluid is done in two way which are?
Index - Answers the amount of formaldehyde gas in grams dissolved in 100 ml. of solution.
Strong - Answers index of 26-36 is considered a ________ fluid.
Strong - Answers a ________ fluid with an index of 26-36 will:
- cause rapid tissue coagulation and fixation with a definite degree of firmness.
- used for problem cases and more difficult to firm bodies.
- improper use may cause an excessive degree of dehydration.
Medium - Answers index of 16-25 is considered a ________ fluid.
Medium - Answers a ______ fluid with an index of 16-25 will:
- produce moderate, slow-forming flexible firmness with little dehydration.
- used for routine cases
Weak - Answers index of 5-15 is considered a _______ fluid
Weak - Answers a ______ fluid with an index of 5-15 will:
- produce minimum amounts of firming
, - is used for jaundice cases, children, and infants
Cosmetic - Answers these fluids contain active dyes that give color to body tissues.
Non-Cosmetic - Answers these fluids contain inactive dyes that cause no color change in the
body, they color the fluid only.
Preservatives - Answers these are some of the most important components of arterial fluid.
Preservatives - Answers these inactivate saprophytic bacteria and render the medium upon
which they thrive unsuitable for nutrition.
Preservatives - Answers these arrest decomposition by altering the enzymes of the body by
denaturing the proteins of the body in such a manner that the enzymes of decomposition
cannot work. They convert decomposable tissue into a form less suseptible to decomposition.
Preservatives - Answers all _______ have disinfecting value, but many disinfectants have
preserving power as well.
Cross Linking - Answers all aldehydes function by _______ proteins.
Formaldehyde - Answers what is the most frequently used aldehyde?
Gluteraldehyde - Answers what is the second most frequently used aldehyde?
Formaldehyde - Answers this is inexpensive, bactericidal and inhibits yeast and mold growth.
Formaldehyde - Answers this rapidly destroys autolytic enzymes and acts of the body's proteins
making them insoluble and thereby inhibits tissue decomposition.
Small - Answers a _______ amount of formaldehyde is needed to act on a large amount of
protein.
Amines - Answers formaldehyde deodorizes the body _______ formed during putrefaction.
Glyoxal - Answers this dialdhyde, tends to stain tissue yellow limiting its use mainly to cavity
fluid formulations.
Gluteraldehyde - Answers this dialdehyde, produces less firming that formaldehyde and has
outstanding disinfectant qualities.
Gluteraldehyde - Answers this dialdehyde:
- is capable of reacting with protein structures over a wide pH range
- is less dehydrating that formaldehyde
- is an excellent disinfectant that is known as a cold chemical sterilant.
