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Glite Dictionary
acetal

acetal

1 9.9
A chemical made when two alcohols join with an aldehyde, used to dissolve materials or make other chemicals
  • noun
  • /əˈsɛtəl/
  • Specialized
: acetal
  • And acid, you can hydrolyze acetals with acid.

Examples

  • Acetal is commonly used as a solvent in various chemical reactions.

  • The researchers synthesized a new compound using acetal as an intermediate.

  • Two new single-piece manifold diaphragm pumps with 1/2-in. ports, previously available in polypropylene only, are now offered in polypropylene, Kynar, or conductive Acetal body materials.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The Snapflex line of quick-disconnect fittings is stocked in three materials: Delrin Acetal (Type D), polypropylene (Type P), and chrome-plated brass (Type CB).

    Academic text (1994)

  • Many laboratory instruments are made from acetal due to its chemical resistance.

Surface Forms

acetal singular
acetals plural

Morphology

acetal = acetic + alcohol (opaque) = acet + al

Although historically coined as a blend of 'acetic' and 'alcohol', that relationship does not help an average learner infer the modern chemical meaning.

Etymology

Acetal comes from the same root acet- as acetic and acid, from an old word meaning 'vinegar'. Chemists used that root for compounds related to acetic acid, so acetal now names the kind of chemical made when a certain 'aldehyde' reacts with alcohols.