What is acrolein?
Acrolein is a chemical substance or molecule known as the simplest unsaturated aldehyde. Unsaturated molecules are molecules that contain double or triple bonds. In organic chemistry, unsaturated molecules are usually hydrocarbons (molecules composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon). The presence of a double or triple bond means that the molecule cannot be saturated with hydrogen, since a double or triple bond would be dedicated to two carbons, not a carbon and another hydrogen. Alternatively, when a molecule consists of only single bonds, this allows a maximum amount of hydrogen bonding and then becomes a saturated molecule.
Aldehydes are molecules that contain a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bonded to a hydrogen atom. This is called the aldehyde functionality. Functional groups are specific parts of molecules that have different chemical properties. Acrolein has an aldehyde functional group attached to another carbon atom that is single bonded to a hydrogen atom and double bonded to a methylene group. A methylene group is a carbon atom single bonded to two hydrogen atoms. The double bond between the central carbon of acrolein and the methylene group classifies acrolein as an unsaturated molecule.
Other facts about acrolein include:
Acrolein is also known as acrolein or 2-propenin.
It is a colorless or yellow liquid.
It is easily soluble in water.
It is a volatile substance and burns easily.
It has been reported to have an unpleasant odor that can cause choking.
It is less dense than water but heavier than air.
Acrolein formulation
The molecular formula of acrolein is CH2 CHCHO. Acrolein contains:
three carbon atoms
four hydrogen atoms
an oxygen atom
The molecular weight of this molecule is 56.06 grams per mole. Acrolein is formed when fossil fuels and tobacco are burned, and by heating animal and vegetable fats.
