CITRONELLAL Meaning and
Definition
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Citronellal is a colorless or pale yellow liquid compound with a strong lemon-like fragrance. It is classified as a terpene aldehyde and is naturally found in various plants, particularly in the leaves of the citronella grass (Cymbopogon species). It is primarily used in the fragrance industry due to its pleasant aroma and is often used as a key ingredient in perfumes, soaps, and other scented products.
Chemically, citronellal is an unsaturated aldehyde and its structure consists of two double bonds and an aldehyde functional group. It has the molecular formula C10H18O with a molecular weight of approximately 154.25 grams per mole.
Apart from its use in fragrances, citronellal also possesses insect repellent properties. Its strong scent acts as a deterrent to insects, particularly mosquitoes, making it a popular ingredient in various insect repellent products. Additionally, citronellal can be used as a flavoring agent in the food industry, particularly in the production of confectionery, desserts, and beverages.
In summary, citronellal is a natural compound found in plants and is widely used in the fragrance industry for its citrus-like scent. It is highly valued for its insect repellent properties and is also utilized as a flavoring agent in food products.
Common Misspellings for CITRONELLAL
- xitronellal
- vitronellal
- fitronellal
- ditronellal
- cutronellal
- cjtronellal
- cktronellal
- cotronellal
- c9tronellal
- c8tronellal
- cirronellal
- cifronellal
- cigronellal
- ciyronellal
- ci6ronellal
- ci5ronellal
- citeonellal
- citdonellal
- citfonellal
- cittonellal
Etymology of CITRONELLAL
The word "citronellal" has its etymology from the combination of two elements: "citronelle" and "-al".
"Citronelle" is derived from the French word "citron", meaning "lemon". It refers to the characteristic lemon-like scent of this chemical compound.
The suffix "-al" generally signifies an aldehyde, which is a class of organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O). In the case of citronellal, it denotes that it is an aldehyde compound.
Therefore, the word "citronellal" can be seen as a combination of "citronelle" and "-al", reflecting its lemon-like smell and its aldehyde group.
