noun
- Plural of ethanal; molecules of acetaldehyde, a colorless volatile liquid aldehyde used in organic synthesis and as a precursor to acetic acid.
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Ethanals are commonly produced during the fermentation of sugars.
- The laboratory synthesized multiple ethanals for the oxidation experiment.
- Ethanals serve as important intermediates in the production of acetic acid.
- The reaction produced trace amounts of ethanals as byproducts.