Diethylacetal

/ˌdaɪɛθɪlˈæsɪtəl/ noun

Definition

An organic compound formed by the reaction of acetaldehyde with two ethanol molecules; used in organic synthesis and fragrance chemistry.

Etymology

From 'diethyl' (two ethyl groups) + 'acetal' (a type of organic functional group formed from aldehydes). Acetal comes from 'acetum' (Latin for vinegar) + '-al'.

Kelly Says

Diethylacetal is found in some artificial flavorings and fragrances—it's an example of how chemists can recreate natural scents by building specific molecular structures piece by piece.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.