Science, Tech, Math › Science Acetal Definition in Chemistry Share Flipboard Email Print Su-no-G / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Science Chemistry Chemical Laws Basics Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on October 03, 2019 An acetal is an organic molecule where two separate oxygen atoms are single bonded to a central carbon atom.Acetals have the general structure of R2C(OR')2.An older definition of acetal had one at least one R group as a derivative of an aldehyde where R = H, but an acetal can contain derivatives of ketones where neither R group is a hydrogen. This type of acetal is called a ketal.Acetals that contain different R' groups are called mixed acetals. Acetal Examples Dimethoxymethane is an acetal compound. Acetal is also a common name for the compound 1,1-diethoxyethane. The compound polyoxymethylene (POM) is a plastic that is also called simply "acetal" or "polyacetal." Source IUPAC (1997). Compendium of Chemical Terminology (2nd ed.) (the "Gold Book"). "Ketals." doi:10.1351/goldbook.K03376 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Acetal Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/definition-of-acetal-604736. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). Acetal Definition in Chemistry. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-acetal-604736 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Acetal Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-acetal-604736 (accessed March 28, 2023). copy citation