Acetaldehyde Formula

Acetaldehyde Formula

The other name of acetaldehyde is MeCHO. The organic chemical formula of Acetaldehyde is C₂H₄O. The formula can also be written as CH₃CHO.

Examples

• From Ethanol:

CH₃CH₂OH + NAD⁺ → CH₃CHO + NADH + H⁺           

About The Topic 

The IUPAC name of acetaldehyde is termed ETHANAL. Acetaldehyde can be found in some ripe fruits, vegetables, some plants, smoke, etc. It is used in the metabolism of alcohol as an intermediate. It is also used in the making or preparation of perfumes, dyes, acetic acid, and drugs. It also acts as a flavoring agent. 

Examples

From Pyruvate:

CH₃COCOO →CH₃CHO + CO₂ ( in presence of pyruvate decarboxylase)

Acetaldehyde is an organic compound produced in industries on a large scale. It is an important aldehyde among the other aldehydes. Acetaldehyde widely or more prominently occurs in nature. 

It is termed an organic compound. Acetaldehyde is a liquid or gas (colorless). Acetaldehyde is boiled under normal room temperature.

Some other names used for acetaldehyde are;

1. Ethanal

2. Ethyl aldehyde

3. Acetaldehyde

Firstly acetaldehyde was observed by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and French chemists Antoine François Comte de Fourcroy and Louis Nicolas Vauquelin investigated it.         

The appearance of acetaldehyde is colorless gas or liquid. The molecular mass of acetaldehyde is 44.053 g/mol. It is ethereal in smell.

The density of acetaldehyde is 0.784 g/cm³ (Average density- 0.7904 – 0.7928 g/cm³.

The melting point of acetaldehyde is -123.37°C (-190.07°F) (149.78 K). The boiling point of acetaldehyde is 20.2°C (68.4 °F) (293.3 K).

It is miscible in water. It is also miscible with ethanol, ether, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. It is slightly soluble in chloroform. The vapor pressure of acetaldehyde is 740 mmHg. It is basic (_pH – 13.57). 

• Structure:

The molecular shape of acetaldehyde is trigonal planar (sp²) at C₁ and tetrahedral (sp³) at C₂. Its dipole moment is 2.7 D.

• Heat capacity: 89 J/mol/K.

• Gibbs free energy: -127.6 kJ/mol

Formula

 CH₃CHO    

Solved Examples

1. What is the nature of acetaldehyde?

It is a colorless gas or liquid. It is miscible in water and some organic compounds and slightly miscible in chloroform. The melting point of acetaldehyde is -123.37°C. The boiling point of acetaldehyde is 20.2°C. The odor of acetaldehyde is ethereal.

2. What are the names used instead of acetaldehyde?

The other names used in place of acetaldehyde are as follows;

1. Ethanal

2. Ethyl alcohol

3. Acetyl alcohol