Formamide will begin to partially decompose into carbon monoxide and ammonia at 180°C together with traces of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and water.

Applications 

Formamide is also a constituent of cryoprotectant vitrification mixtures used for cryopreservation of tissues and organs.

Formamide is also used as an RNA stabiliser in gel electrophoresis by deionizing RNA. In capillary electrophoresis, it is used for stabilizing (single) strands of denatured DNA.

Another use is to add it in sol-gel solutions in order to avoid cracking during sintering.

Formamide, in its pure state, has been used as an alternative solvent for the electrostatic self-assembly of polymer nanofilms.

Formamide is used to prepare primary amines directly from ketones via their N-formyl derivatives, using the Leuckart reaction.