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Chemical Properties |
Colourless clear liquid |
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Usage |
Acetaldehyde is used as intermediate for syntheses of bulk chemicals, e.g. ethyl acetate, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, isooctylalcohol, pentaerythrite, pyridines, etc. For specific dyes, e.g. C.I. 46040 Basic Yellow 9. Product Data Sheet |
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Usage |
Acetaldehyde is used as a general solvent in organic and polymer chemical reactions. It also plays a role in fruit and food quality, ripening and deterioration. |
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General Description |
A clear colorless liquid with a pungent choking odor. Flash point -36°F. Boiling point 69°F. Density 6.5 lb / gal. Vapors are heaver than air and irritate the mucous membranes and especially the eyes. Used to make other chemicals. |
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Air & Water Reactions |
Highly flammable. Easily oxidized by air to form unstable peroxides which may explode. Forms explosive mixture with air above 100°C (30-60% of the vapor in air) owing to formation of peroxyacetic acid [White, A. G. et al., J. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1950, 69, p. 206]. Soluble in water. |
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Reactivity Profile |
Acetaldehyde undergoes a vigorously exothermic condensation reaction in contact with strong acids, bases or traces of metals. Can react vigorously with oxidizing reagents such as dinitrogen pentaoxide, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, silver nitrate, etc. Contamination often leads either to reaction with the contaminant or polymerization, both with the evolution of heat. Can react violently with acid anhydrides, alcohols, ketones, phenols, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, halogens, phosphorus, isocyanates, concentrated sulfuric acid, and aliphatic amines. Reactions with cobalt chloride, mercury(II) chlorate or perchlorate form sensitive, explosive products [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 5]. An oxygenation reaction of Acetaldehyde in the presence of cobalt acetate at -20°C exploded violently when stirred. The event was ascribed to peroxyacetate formation [Phillips B. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1957, 79, p. 5982]. |
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Health Hazard |
Breathing vapors will be irritating and may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, and unconsciousness. Contact with eyes may cause burns and eye damage. Skin contact from clothing wet with the chemical causes burns or severe irritation. |
China (Mainland)
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