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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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’ Pre-Alcohol and the Swedish biotech company De Faire Medical AB’s competitor supplement Myrkl both rely on live bacteria to process excess acetaldehyde.

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

Some twenty different constituents have been found in American peppermint oil, including menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, cineol, amyl alcohol, pinene, l-limonene, phellandrene, dimethyl sulphide, menthyl isovalerianate, isovalerianic aldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and isovalerianic acid.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.