Is 'aldol' a common English word?

No, it is a highly specialised technical term used almost exclusively in chemistry.

What does the 'ol' in 'aldol' refer to?

It refers to the alcohol (-OH) functional group present in the molecule.

Can 'aldol' be used as a verb?

No, it is only used as a noun or attributively as an adjective (e.g., aldol reaction).

Is there a difference between an aldol and a ketol?

Yes, an aldol has an aldehyde group, while a ketol (or ketol) has a ketone group, but both contain the β-hydroxy carbonyl structure.

Is “aldol” formal?

Aldol is usually technical/scientific in register.

How do you pronounce “aldol”?

Aldol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaldɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælˌdɔl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

aldol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low

UK/ˈaldɒl/US/ˈælˌdɔl/

Technical/Scientific

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Quick answer

What does “aldol” mean?

A chemical compound, specifically β-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone, formed by the aldol reaction.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A chemical compound, specifically β-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone, formed by the aldol reaction.

A product of a specific organic chemical reaction (the aldol condensation) where an enol or enolate ion reacts with a carbonyl compound to form a carbon-carbon bond.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).

Connotations

None beyond the strict scientific definition.

Frequency

Equally rare and specialised in both dialects, confined to technical literature.

Grammar

How to Use “aldol” in a Sentence

[Catalyst] catalyses the aldol reaction between [carbonyl 1] and [carbonyl 2].The [compound] undergoes an aldol condensation to form [product].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

aldol condensationaldol reactionaldol additionretro-aldol

medium

asymmetric aldolaldol productaldol intermediate

weak

perform an aldolundergo aldolcatalyse the aldol

Examples

Examples of “aldol” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The aldol product was isolated.
They studied the aldol mechanism.

American English

The aldol product was isolated.
They studied the aldol mechanism.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology research papers and textbooks to describe a fundamental organic reaction and its products.

Everyday

Never used in everyday conversation.

Technical

Core term in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and metabolic pathway analysis (e.g., in glycolysis).

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “aldol”

Neutral

β-hydroxy carbonyl

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “aldol”

Misspelling as 'aldal' or 'aldole'.
Confusing 'aldol' (the product) with 'aldehyde' (a reactant).
Using it as a general term for any chemical reaction.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is a highly specialised technical term used almost exclusively in chemistry.
: It refers to the alcohol (-OH) functional group present in the molecule.
: No, it is only used as a noun or attributively as an adjective (e.g., aldol reaction).
: Yes, an aldol has an aldehyde group, while a ketol (or ketol) has a ketone group, but both contain the β-hydroxy carbonyl structure.
: A chemical compound, specifically β-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone, formed by the aldol reaction.
: Aldol is usually technical/scientific in register.
: Aldol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaldɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælˌdɔl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'ALD' for aldehyde (one reactant) and 'OL' for alcohol (the -OH group in the product): ALD+OL.

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable; term is purely technical and literal.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The condensation between acetaldehyde gives the compound 3-hydroxybutanal.

Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'aldol' primarily used?