a colourless volatile pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of organic compounds and as a solvent and reducing agent. Formula: CH3CHO
Systematic name: ethanal
acetaldehyde in American English
(ˌæsɛtˈældəˌhaɪd)
noun
a colorless, soluble, flammable, liquid aldehyde, CH3CHO, formed by the oxidation of ethylene: used as a solvent and as a raw material in making many organic compounds