Acetaldehyde vs. Formaldehyde — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Acetaldehyde and Formaldehyde
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Compare with Definitions
Acetaldehyde
Ethanal (common name acetaldehyde) is an organic chemical compound with the formula CH3CHO, sometimes abbreviated by chemists as MeCHO (Me = methyl). It is one of the most important aldehydes, occurring widely in nature and being produced on a large scale in industry.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde ( (listen) fer-mal-duh-hahyd, also (listen) for-) (systematic name methanal) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O (H−CHO). The pure compound is a pungent-smelling colorless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde (refer to section Forms below), hence it is stored as an aqueous solution (formalin).
Acetaldehyde
A colorless, flammable liquid, C2H4O, used to manufacture acetic acid, perfumes, and drugs.
Formaldehyde
A pungent colorless flammable gaseous compound, CH2O, the simplest and most reactive aldehyde, used for manufacturing melamine and phenolic resins, fertilizers, dyes, and embalming fluids and in aqueous solution as a preservative and disinfectant.
Acetaldehyde
(organic compound) An organic compound, (CH3CHO). Sometimes called ethanal or acetic aldehyde. See aldehyde.
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Formaldehyde
(organic compound) The simplest aldehyde, HCHO, a colourless gas that has many industrial applications; it dissolves in water to give formol (10%) and formalin.
Acetaldehyde
Acetic aldehyde. See Aldehyde.
Formaldehyde
A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.
Acetaldehyde
A colorless volatile water-soluble liquid aldehyde used chiefly in manufacture of acetic acid and perfumes and drugs
Formaldehyde
A colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol
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