Ethenol

/ˈɛθənɔl/ noun

Definition

A hypothetical or unstable chemical compound that would combine ethene with an alcohol group, though it's not typically stable in normal conditions.

Etymology

From ethene + -ol (alcohol group). The name describes what the structure would be theoretically—ethene with a hydroxyl group—even if the compound itself is too unstable to isolate.

Kelly Says

Ethenol is a ghost molecule in organic chemistry—it would be vinyl alcohol in structure, which immediately rearranges into acetaldehyde, showing how some theoretical compounds are so unstable they transform instantly into other forms.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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