Home > Acetaldehyde

It is a highly reactive flammable liquid with a strong fruity smell. It melts at -123.5° C and boils at 21° C.

It occurs naturally in ripe fruit and coffee, and is produced by plants as part of their normal metabolism.

In the liver, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, which is then further converted into the harmless acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde is more toxic than alcohol and is responsible for many hangoverA hangover is the after-effect following the consumption of large amounts of one drug or another. In particular, it is most commonly associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Veisalgia is the medical term for the condition. The symptoms An a symptoms. N-acetylcysteineN-acetylcysteine Empiric formulaCHNOS Molecular weight163. 2 N-acetylcysteine is a chemical, commonly called NAC produced by the body that enhances the production of the enzyme glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. In the United States, it is available as (NAC) is known to assist in processing acetaldehyde in the body and therefore can help to relief hangoverA hangover is the after-effect following the consumption of large amounts of one drug or another. In particular, it is most commonly associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Veisalgia is the medical term for the condition. The symptoms An a symptoms.

Some persons from far-EasternFar East is a term often used for East Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also the easternmost territories of Russia, i. Russian Far East, and the western Pacific Ocean region. See also Near East, Orient. descent have a mutationThis article is about mutation in biology, for other meanings see: mutation (disambiguation). Mutations are permanent, transmissible changes to the genetic material (usually DNA or RNA) of a cell. Mutations can be caused by copying errors in the genetic m in their acetaldehyde dehydrogenase geneDNA and to a chromosome (right). Introns are regions often found in eukaryote genes which are removed in the splicing process: only the exons encode the protein. This diagram labels a region of only 40 or so bases as a gene. In reality many genes are much, making this enzyme less effective. In these people, acetaldehyde accumulates after drinking, leading to severe and immediate hangover symptoms. These people are therefore less likely to become alcoholics. The drug antabuse ( disulfiram) also prevents the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid, with the same unpleasant effects for drinkers. It is used in the treatment of certain alcoholics.

The last steps of alcoholic fermentation in bacteria, plants and yeast involves the conversion of pyruvate into acetaldehyde by the enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase , followed by the conversion of acetaldehyde into ethanol. The latter reaction is again catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase, now operating in the opposite direction.

In the chemical industry, acetaldehyde is mainly used as an intermediary to produce acetic acid, certain esters, and a number of other chemicals. In 1989, US production stood at 740 million pounds (336,000 t).

When exposed to acetaldehyde vapors, humans develop irritation of the eyes, skin and the respiratory tract. Acetaldehyde is an air pollutant, emitted by cars and certain production facilities. It is also contained in tobacco smoke. It is classified as a probable carcinogen.

Three molecules of acetaldehyde can form the cyclic paraldehyde , and four can form the cyclic acetaldehyde tetramer .

The CAS registry number of acetaldehyde is 75-07-0 and its UN number is UN 1089.