acetal Chem.
(ˈæsɪˌtæl)
[f. acetic) + alcohol).]
1. A colourless liquid with alcoholic smell, found among the first portions of the distillate in preparing spirit of wine; a derivative of aldehyde, converted by oxidizing agents into acetic acid. It is the diethylate of ethylidene or ethidene CH3—CH(OC2H5)2.
| 1853 Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 4) I. 1 Acetal, is the subacetate of ether, having for its chemical symbol 3AcO + AcO3. It is a light colourless ethereous liquid. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 250 Acetal is isomeric with diethyl glycol. |
2. Sometimes extended to analogous ethidene derivatives in other series of the hydrocarbons, as dimethyl acetal, found in crude wood-spirit; also called ethidene dimethylate, CH3—CH(OCH3)2. In this nomenclature, the preceding substance is distinguished as diethyl acetal.
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Add: 3. = polyoxymethylene s.v. poly- 2 c.
| 1957 Materials & Methods XLV. 153 Called Delrin acetal resin, the polymer is still in an early stage of development. 1986 Early Music Aug. 419/3 (Advt.), A harpsichord jack... Made in low friction acetal (similar to Delrin). 1990 New Cyclist Summer 47/1, 90{pcnt} of the freewheel is plastic, a very durable, rigid polymer known as Acetal. |