acetaldehyde

[as-i-tal-duh-hahyd] /ˌæs ɪˈtæl dəˌhaɪd/
noun, Chemistry
1.
a volatile, colorless, water-soluble liquid, C 2 H 4 O, having a pungent, fruitlike odor: used chiefly in the silvering of mirrors and in organic synthesis.
Also called ethanal.
Origin
1875-80; acet- + aldehyde
Examples from the web for acetaldehyde
  • Ethanol also increase formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions.
  • Also not mentioned is the formation of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
  • acetaldehyde is mainly used as an intermediate in the synthesis of other chemicals.
  • An example is acetaldehyde produced in the combustion of ethanol.
British Dictionary definitions for acetaldehyde

acetaldehyde

/ˌæsɪˈtældɪˌhaɪd/
noun
1.
a colourless volatile pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of organic compounds and as a solvent and reducing agent. Formula: CH3CHO Systematic name ethanal
acetaldehyde in Medicine

acetaldehyde ac·et·al·de·hyde (ās'ĭ-tāl'də-hīd')
n.
A colorless, flammable liquid formed during ethanol metabolism and yeast fermentation of organic compounds and used to manufacture acetic acid and drugs. Also called aldehyde, ethaldehyde.

acetaldehyde in Science
acetaldehyde
  (ās'ĭ-tāl'də-hīd')   
A colorless, flammable liquid, used to manufacture acetic acid, perfumes, and drugs. Chemical formula: C2H4O.
Encyclopedia Article for acetaldehyde

an aldehyde used as a starting material in the synthesis of 1-butanol (n-butyl alcohol), ethyl acetate, perfumes, flavourings, aniline dyes, plastics, synthetic rubber, and other chemical compounds. It has been manufactured by the hydration of acetylene and by the oxidation of ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Today the dominant process for the manufacture of acetaldehyde is the Wacker process, developed between 1957 and 1959, which catalyzes the oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde. The catalyst is a two-component system consisting of palladium chloride, PdCl2, and copper chloride, CuCl2.

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