Aldolization

/ˌældəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

A chemical reaction in which two molecules of an aldehyde or ketone combine to form a larger molecule called an aldol.

Etymology

From aldol (a combination of aldehyde and alcohol, coined in the 1870s) plus -ization (from -ize and -ation). A fundamental reaction in organic chemistry.

Kelly Says

Aldolization is the Lego-like trick that organic chemists use to build bigger molecules from smaller ones—it's so important that it's one of the first reactions chemistry students learn!

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