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Glite Dictionary
aldol reaction

aldol reaction

8.2
A chemical reaction where two small organic molecules join to make a larger molecule called an aldol
  • noun
  • /ˈældɔl riˈækʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reacción de aldol
  • During the laboratory experiment, we observed an aldol reaction between two aldehydes.

Examples

  • The aldol reaction is a key step in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals.

  • Understanding the aldol reaction helps chemists create complex organic molecules.

  • We're going to get this and then an aldol reaction on that will make this.

  • So that's the reaction we just talked about the aldol reaction, OK.

Surface Forms

aldol reaction singular
aldol reactions plural

Morphology

aldol + reaction

The phrase is transparently compositional: 'aldol' (a specific compound) + 'reaction' (a chemical process) yields a chemical process involving or producing an aldol. This follows common noun+reaction naming patterns in chemistry that learners who know both constituents can readily interpret, even if detailed mechanistic specifics require specialist knowledge.

Etymology

Aldol reaction: The name comes from the word 'aldol', which one popular story says was formed by joining the words aldehyde and alcohol because the new molecule shows parts of both. So the term fits the meaning: it describes a reaction where aldehydes or ketones 'combine' to make an aldol product.