Glyoxal

glyoxal

[glī′äk‚sal]

(organic chemistry)

(CHO)₂ Colorless, deliquescent powder or liquid with mild odor, melting point 15°C, boiling point 51°C; used to insolubilize starches, cellulosic materials, and proteins, in embalming fluids, for leather tanning, and for rayon shrinkproofing.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Glyoxal

 

the simplest dialdehyde, OHC—CHO. In the crystalline and liquid states it is yellow; the vapor is green. Melting point, 15° C; boiling point, 50.4° C; density, 1.4 g/cm³ (20° C); index of refraction n_D^20.5 1.3826.

Glyoxal is prepared by dehydrogenation of ethylene glycol, HOCH₂—CH₂OH, over a copper catalyst or by treating tetrachloroethane, Cl₂CH—CHCl₂, with oleum, followed by hydrolysis of the resultant glyoxal sulfate,

Glyoxal is readily soluble in water, alcohol, and ether; it polymerizes readily during storage, particularly in the presence of traces of water. Polymeric glyoxal can be de-polymerized to the monomeric form by distilling over phosphorus pentoxide. In the presence of alkali it undergoes the intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction, yielding glycolic acid. Treatment with ammonia gives imidazole, and with aromatic o-diamines it gives pyrazine derivatives.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.