acetaldehyde

[as-i-tal-duh-hahyd]

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.

acetaldehyde

/ 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

acetaldehyde

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of acetaldehyde¹

First recorded in 1875–80; acet- + aldehyde

Example Sentences

One of the compounds, acetic acid, had never before been definitively observed in space ice, while the others -- ethanol, methyl formate, and acetaldehyde -- were detected in ices outside the Milky Way for the first time.

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A new class of over-the-counter probiotic supplements claim to prevent hangovers by reducing gut acetaldehyde.

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One of many factors contributing to day-after misery is the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a chemical byproduct of the beverages’ ethanol breaking down in the body.

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They accumulate acetaldehyde, which is a somewhat toxic compound also linked to hangovers.

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In the future, the gel could be taken orally before or during alcohol consumption to prevent blood alcohol levels from rising and acetaldehyde from damaging the body.

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