The abundances of simple molecules are examined in terms of the time-dependent cloud evolution. The formation and destruction mechanisms of H 2 C O are reviewed. The average value of the fractional abundance of H 2 C O is derived to be in the range of 10 − 10 t o 5 × 10 − 9 . This is comparable to the observed values. The expected variations of the molecules formed from or destroyed by CO, CI, and C + whose abundances depend on the evolutionary state of the cloud are discussed.