View source for Ethanal

Ethanal's systemic name is acetylaldehyde and has the molecular formula C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O. It is the second shortest chain member of the [[Aldehyde|aldehyde]] family hence the -al suffix and naming requires no numbering as the C=O bond in [[Aldehyde|aldehydes]] is only at the end of the chain. 

=== Chemical and Physical Properties  ===

Due to ethanals short chain length and strong polar C=O bond it forms permanent dipole-dipole forces and can form [[Hydrogen bond|hydrogen bonds]] so therefore water soluble. Unlike [[Methanal|methanal]] it is a clear liquid at room temperature with a boiling point of 20.2 degrees Celcius and is also highly flammable. 

=== Reactivity  ===

Ethanal is quite reactive due to the electronegativity difference in the C=O bond and is susceptible to [[Nucleophile|nucleophillic]] attack particularly addition reactions into alcohols (with OH-) and hydroxynitriles (with CN-.) Both these nucleophiles attack the delta positive carbon molecule and break the double bond saturating the carbon. 

Ethanal can be easily oxidized to [[Ethanoic acid|ethanoic acid]] in the presence of an acidified dichromate. 

Ethanal is reduced to ethanol in the presence of H- nucleophile usuall in sodium borohydride. 

Ethanal will provide a positive result in both Fehlings test and Silver mirror tests. 

=== Role in ethanol metabolism  ===

In alcohol metabolism, [[NAD+|NAD<sup>+</sup>]] oxidises ethanol in hepatocytes to ethanal; catalysed by alcohol dehydrogenase. Ethanal is an intermediate in this pathway which is further oxidized by NAD<sup>+</sup> to [[acetic acid|acetic acid]]. This second step of [[Oxidation|oxidation]] mainly occurs in the mitochondria though a small amount may be fully oxidized in hepatocytes. 

This process occurs rapidly as ethanal is toxic to cells. 

Personal efficiency in ethanol metabolism is dependant on [[Polymorphism|polymorphic gene]] interaction and how regularly [[ethanol|ethanol]] is consumed<ref>Lister T, Renshaw J. AQA chemistry. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2015.</ref><ref>Chemistry of a Hangover — Alcohol and its Consequences Part 2: ChemViews Magazine: ChemistryViews [Internet]. Chemistryviews.org. 2017 [cited 4 December 2017]. Available from: http://www.chemistryviews.org/details/ezine/1076111/Chemistry_of_a_Hangover__Alcohol_and_its_Consequences_Part_2.html</ref>. 

=== References  ===

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