acetaldehyde

American  

[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.

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acetaldehyde British  

/ ˌæsɪˈtældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

1. Systematic name: ethanal.  a colourless volatile pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of organic compounds and as a solvent and reducing agent. Formula: CH 3 CHO

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acetaldehyde Scientific  

/ ăs′ĭ-tăl′də-hīd′ /

1. A colorless, flammable liquid, used to manufacture acetic acid, perfumes, and drugs. Chemical formula: C ₂ H ₄ O.

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Etymology

Origin of acetaldehyde

First recorded in 1875–80; acet- + aldehyde

Example Sentences

When activity increases, selectivity often drops, leaving acetaldehyde yields below 90%.

From Science Daily • Dec. 29, 2025

ZBiotics has funded studies demonstrating both the safety of their product and that their bacteria effectively broke down a significant amount of acetaldehyde in simulated gut conditions in a lab.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2024

High levels of acetaldehyde, in turn, causes headaches, nausea, facial flushing and sweating.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2023

It can cause cancer because it breaks down in the body to form a compound called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA.

From Scientific American • Sep. 21, 2023

We can show the change most simply in this fashion: C2H2 + H2O → C2H4O acetylene added to water forms acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde is not of much importance in itself, but is useful as a transition.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.