Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)
glycolaldehyde
Sign in to saveAlso known as glycollaldehyde, Glycolic aldehyde, Methylol formaldehyde, Monomethylolformaldehyde, GLYCOALDEHYDE, 2-hydroxyacetaldehyde, 2-hydroxyethanal
Glycolaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula . It is the smallest possible molecule that contains both an aldehyde group () and a hydroxyl group (). It is a highly reactive molecule that occurs both in the biosphere and in the interstellar medium. It is normally supplied as a white solid. Although it conforms to the general formula for carbohydrates, , it is not generally considered to be a saccharide.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C2H4O2
- Molecular weight
- 60.05 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 2-hydroxyacetaldehyde
- SMILES
- C(C=O)O
- InChIKey
- WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- -0.9
- Polar surface area
- 37.3 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 2
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 60.021129
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Glycolaldehyde
- canonical SMILES
- C(C=O)O
- chemical formula
- C₂H₄O₂
Sources (5)
via Wikidata · CC0
~6 min read
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Synthesis
- Biosynthesis
- Role in formose reaction
- Theorized role in abiogenesis
- Formation in space
- Detection in space
- References
- External links
Glycolaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula . It is the smallest possible molecule that contains both an aldehyde group () and a hydroxyl group (). It is a highly reactive molecule that occurs both in the biosphere and in the interstellar medium. It is normally supplied as a white solid. Although it conforms to the general formula for carbohydrates, {{chem2|C_{n}(H2O)_{n} }}, it is not generally considered to be a saccharide.
==Structure== Glycolaldehyde as a gas is a simple monomeric structure. As a solid and molten liquid, it exists as a dimer. Collins and George reported the equilibrium of glycolaldehyde in water by using NMR. In aqueous solution, it exists as a mixture of at least four species, which rapidly interconvert. thumb|380px|center|Structures and distribution of glycolaldehyde as a 20% solution in water. Notice that the free aldehyde is a minor component.