acetaldehyde

acetaldehyde

acetaldehyde or ethanal , CH 3 CHO, colorless liquid aldehyde , sometimes simply called aldehyde. It melts at -123°C, boils at 20.8°C, and is soluble in water and ethanol. It is formed by the partial oxidation of ethanol; oxidation of acetaldehyde forms acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is made commercially by the oxidation of ethylene with a palladium catalyst (see Wacker process ). It is used as a reducing agent (e.g., for silvering mirrors), in the manufacture of synthetic resins and dyestuffs, and as a preservative. When treated with a small amount of sulfuric acid it forms paraldehyde, (CH 3 CHO) 3 , a trimer, which is used as a hypnotic drug.

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acetaldehyde

acetaldehyde See ethanal

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"acetaldehyde." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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acetaldehyde. (Image by Benutzer:Van Flamm, GFDL)